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Is Pregnancy Possible Despite Taking Emergency Contraceptive Pill?

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Posted on Tue, 12 Jan 2016
Question: Hi! I am a 27 years old boy. And the girl I am going to talk about is 24 years old. For the introduction, she was my girlfriend for almost 2 years, although now our relationship is very broken, we accidentally had our first sex on the night of 29th November 2015. It was accidental and I really don't want her to get pregnant and I'm really worried. We always resisted sex before. If she is not pregnant, then I really want a good new life. So my question is this. What are the chances that she gets pregnant?

She had her last period on 17th/18th November which ended on 21st/22nd Nov. Given this data, is there a high or low chance that she gets pregnant? In addition, I gave her emergency contraceptive (72 hours) on the morning of 30th November. But, as she coughed the moment she eats, she spits out some of her saliva. Fearing that she spitted out the pill, I gave her another pill. Is there any problem eating two pills at a time (in case the first one wasn't spitted out)? Even if it was spitted out, is there still a chance that atleast some pieces of the pill was still consumed and still works? Another question, I don't know if she vomited out the second pills also. And if she did, it stayed inside her for atleast 15 minutes, because after 15 minutes I was gone. Now if it was vomitted out after 15 minutes is there still a chance that atleast some pieces of the pill was still consumed and still works? like the first pill that may or may not be spitted out.

And for the main question, what are chances that she gets pregnant given all these data? And if she gets pregnant, and suppose it was found out in this month December, is there still any way her pregnancy can be stopped? What are all the possible ways?

I'll be very thankful for you answers and I hope you will relief my worries. And I really wish for that. Thank You very much.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Very less chance of pregnancy

Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir, thanks for trusting health care magic.
I completely understand your situation and need to be double sure about all the stuff so as to enter a new smooth life ahead.
There are negligible chances of pregnancy if she just spitted saliva the first time as it is a rapidly absorbing drug.
Considering she deliberated tried vomiting out the second pill also after say 15-20 mins then also very less chances that while of the pill came out.
So overall chances of pregnancy are very very less as all in all she at least took one full pill or more than that even.
It is a very effective pill so usually eliminates chances of pregnancy altogether.
Just relax and don't keep worrying about it as even if she falls pregnant then it can be easily tackled by simple abortion pills.
Take care in future.
Regards
Dr Manisha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Manisha Jain (21 hours later)
Thank you very much for the answer and that reliefs me a lot. As for my follow up question, I would like to consider the worst cases possible. Because it seems to me (I think) that she is trying to get pregnant by me so that she can marry me. I assume that she tries all the way possible to get pregnant. So here are the same cases with a little more details and follow up by question considering the worst case.

1) The first pill, I checked her putting it inside her mouth, and after she swallowed it (or acted like it) I checked inside her mouth and I don't seem to see anything. Maybe she did really swallowed it. She coughed seconds after that and spitted out some saliva as I said. She said she is not sure whether she spitted out the pill or not. I am not even sure. I tried to check whatever she spitted but couldn't see it all. First lets assume that she spitted out the pill.

2) The second pill, like the first one, I think she really did swallowed it. I checked it inside her mouth, under her tongue, and didn't seem to see anything. I assume that she really swallowed it too. Now we had a chit chat and after 10-15 minutes, I had to go urgently. As I felt suspicious of her behaviour after I was gone, I had a thinking that she would want to vomit deliberately. And in your answers you said that it is a strong absorbing pill, and also effective pill, the pill is guaranteed to work anyway after 10 (worst case) - 15 or 20 minutes. That reliefs me a lot.

Now lets assume that, the pills had no effect. Given the dates of her last period, and the date of our having sex, is it a fertile period for her? Is it the danger time of the month in which she can get pregnant? Or is it an inactive period?

Lastly, suppose she gets pregnant and we found out it on this month or January, you said that there is simple abortion pills. Can you tell me about that? Because I've heard of that only on TV Serial "Savdhaan India" which I think each episode is based on a true story. Although every scene may not be real based. In one episode, a man gave a women an abortion pill to whom he had sex. The pill was to be taken for 4 days, 1 dose each day (if I remember correctly). The girl started to feel unwell, her stomach became severely ache, the man still forced her to continue to eat, and before 4 days she died. So, can you tell me about abortion pills?

Lastly, thank you very much again. I hope you don't see my writings and questions as annoying. I seem to think negatively in everything. Please don't be annoyed by my question. I am sincerely listening to your answers. I feel worried and I just want details and consider the worst cases and I just seem to be negative thinker. Thank You.

I guess I ask it in a wrong way. So let me put it short.

1) Given the dates of her last period, and the date of our having sex, is it a fertile period for her? Is it the danger time of the month in which she can get pregnant? Or is it an inactive period?

2) Can you tell me more about abortion pills? If required, which one should I go for? And what are the precautions and warnings I should know?

Thank You
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (25 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It was her fertile period

Detailed Answer:
Sorry for the delay in response because of some professional involvement.
Yes you are right dear, she was in her mid cycle which is the most fertile period in a female's menstrual cycle.
So in case you had not given her pills or if pills fail due to any reason then there are high chances of pregnancy.
MTP pills are simple and easily available but only on prescription by a gynecologist.
Moreover MTP pills should always be taken only under the guidance of a gynecologist so that in case there occurs severe bleeding or pain then it can be easily managed.
But in my opinion chances of pregnancy in your case are minimal.
Let's hope for the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Manisha Jain (10 days later)
Hi! Thank you for your answers. As time passes, I have new information which keeps me wondering what will happen. Here is some new information.

First, repeating the dates of previous incidents, her last period was on 17th/18th November (assuming she told me the truth). The night we had sex was on 29th November. The day she ate emergency contraceptive (which I was not sure of whether she ate it or not, maybe 2 or 1 pill or no pill at all) was the morning of 30th November.

Yesterday, i.e. on 13th December, she told me on message that she had pain on the lower abdomen. I don't know the exact name of that organ but I think women have pain like that on lower abdomen when they are going to have periods, or having their periods. She used to have those type of pain too before when she is having her period. The pain is not severe and is not that constant, as she told me, it comes sometimes. In addition, she said she felt like vomiting, she didn't actually vomit, but she just felt like it, and I think that is also sometimes. All this, it seems, started from yesterday.

Assuming that she is telling the truth, this makes my worry to come up again. However, I think, it may also be that her period is coming soon, or that it is the side effect of the emergency contraceptive pill which she ate on 30th November. But I don't know. I cannot tell.

My question is, is this something to be worried about? I know it's not possible to predict the outcomes of everything accurately, but your advice must be much more meaningful/worth than just my guess. Is this something to be worried about? If, so what should I do?

I was thinking of getting a pregnancy test kit to be sure. But I have not much knowledge about it. Do you recommend doing a pregnancy test? Although, it's not even 1 month after those incidents.

Whether pregnancy test is recommended or not, may I know the information about it. The pharmacy will be crowded and it may not be comfortable to discuss these issues with the shopkeeper.

I think pregnancy testing kit is available in pharmacy. If I buy it,
1) how is the test done?
2) is there anyway that she can fake that she is pregnant when she uses the pregnancy test kit? Because, knowing that will help me make her do the test in the right way, and so that I can know the accurate answer and prevent her from tricking me.
3) any other information if important

Thank you very much for listening to my problem. And I really appreciate the previous answers. I hope I get your reply soon.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Urine pregnancy test advised

Detailed Answer:
I have read your description and understand your situation but in case she is telling you the truth and if she hasn't had such symptoms in past then there are chances that she is pregnant.
So at least a Urine pregnancy test is a must.
Get a test kit which has a round tunnel and a rectangular box like indentation.
Ask her to get her Urine in some container and with the help of the dropper provided in the kit put 3-4 drops of her Urine in round tunnel and wait for 1 minute.
In case there are two lines in rectangular box then she is pregnant.
There is no way she can fake it positive so don't worry about that aspect.
All the best
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Manisha Jain (22 hours later)
Thank You. Since I've paid for this, I would like to ask for every doubt that I have that I can think of so that my payment don't go to waste for me. So here is my follow up question.

1) Accuracy of the test: Suppose I let her do the urine test, will the result be accurate? Because, since one month is not yet over, even if she is pregnant, there may not be enough hormones (which is created when a woman is pregnant) to get a positive result. So, it may be possible that we get a negative result when in reality, she is pregnant. Am I right in this? So, is it ok to do the test now itself? If yes, is it good to do the test more than once? How many times? Or is one result reliable? Because if required, we'll have to buy two three testing kits at the shop at once, for doing the test on alternate days.

2) Is the result sometimes confusing? I mean, if it is negative, I think one line will appear clearly in the rectangular box. And if positive, two lines will clearly appear. So, are there cases when the second line is not very clear, just faintly appearing, which will make the result confusing, positive or negative? What are the possible cases? This information will help me not misinterpreting the result.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Test it now

Detailed Answer:
ou are most welcome.
Yes the results are usually accurate and in case you want reconfirmation then do two tests simultaneously on same sample which is then 100% accurate only.
In case the second line is less clear then also the test is positive only but needs retesting after 2 days as then that signifies late conception but in your case it already more than 14 days which is the earliest time the test comes positive that will not be the case with you.
So it is alright to test it now itself and thus break free from the fear of pregnancy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Manisha Jain (43 hours later)
Thank You. We have already bought a pregnancy testing kit, but since there are some important programs this week, we decided not to do the testing until the end of this week, because if we get an undesirable result, we fear that it would harm us psychologically and affects our performance in our programs. So, for personal reason, we decided to the the testing at the end of this week or in the coming week. So, meanwhile, I would like to have more questions. Here is my question.

1) Suppose on the morning of 30th November, she did really eat the emergency contraceptive pills and didn't vomited it out, and she did really eat the second pill also, in which case she eats two pills at once, what would be the side effect or symptoms for eating two emergency contraceptive pills at the same time? Is it bad for woman's health to eat two emergency contraceptive pills? Can the result be the same as how she is feeling right now?

2) In the current situation, she hasn't had her next period till now, she said that the pain below her abdomen is very much lower now, although maybe not completely gone, but the inclination towards vomiting (although not actually vomiting) still seems to persist sometimes. My question is, are there cases when woman have symptoms which seems to indicate they are pregnant, but actually get a negative result? Do women have missed periods for some days, having unusual symptoms (like pain below abdomen, inclination towards vomiting, missed periods), but are not actually pregnant?

Although, doing the test will reveal it all to us, at least this week is not a very convenient time for us to do the test. Like I said, she hasn't has her next period till now, the last time was on 17/18th November. I still keep my hopes positive that this is due to the contraceptive pills. Maybe on 20th Dec (Sunday) or 21st Dec (Monday) she will have her period. This is possible right? Thank You.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Can do the test at end of week

Detailed Answer:
Yes dear the delay in her periods is because of the emergency pill intake most likely but not conclusively.
The symptoms of delayed periods due to any reason and early pregnancy are the same so they cannot be differentiated from each other except by doing a pregnancy test.
So it's ok if you are planning on doing the rest by the end of this week as that way the rest will be conclusive and there are chances that she gets her periods by that time.
So all in all nothing to worry as the management will stay the same whether you do the test today or at the end of week.
The symptoms she is getting are very non specific so as I told you cannot be subscribed to any diagnosis in particular.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Follow up: Dr. Manisha Jain (5 days later)
Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.

Hi! Thank you for the answers. We did a pregnancy test on the night of 18th December, and unfortunately the result was positive. I am very worried and I really need help. What reliefs me is that we can still do abortion with pills. I may have to consult a doctor, but I need your guidance on this, regarding how I will carry it out.

Yesterday i.e. 22nd Dec, we went and see a doctor on the opd section for confirmation of our pregnancy test, (I was not allowed to enter), and we/she didn't tell the doctor regarding our plan of abortion on this day because we meet the doctor only for confirmation of our result. The doctor prescribed her FOL 123. The picture of the pill and the doctor's paper is as attached (If I attached it successfully).

As we are planning for abortion, is this pill FOL 123 safe to eat? Atleast untill she eats the abortion pill.

For abortion pill, I think I will have to consult other doctor in their clinic because on the opd section we cannot talk to the doctor personally. I think you know regarding opd better than me. So when I consult a doctor in their clinic, I would like to know something and I need your help on this. Here is my question.

1. As I've never been through this before, what will I start saying to the doctor? I mean, do doctors prescibe abortion pills simply by saying "she is pregnant and we want to do abortion"? Is it safe to say our plan directly to the doctor?

2. Is it legal? We are from XXXXXXX Will the doctor ask for the presence of our mother and father? I have no intention to do anything the wrong way, but can it be kept as secretly as possible? Even legally.

3. Before how many weeks must the abortion pill be taken? Is it still safe to do abortion with pills during the month of January 2016?

4. If we have taken the pills successfully, what are the problems we should expect? Can it be handled by me and my exgirlfriend alone? And if required with the doctor alone? Without the knowledge of any other person.

5. Lastly, how fast does the pill work? This is for security. She don't seem to reject the idea of abortion, but I will have to make sure she doesn't vomit it out after my presence. How will I make sure she really eats it? How long should I stay with her after she takes the pill, so that the pill will have already work in case she tries to trick me and vomitted it out somehow. 1 hour or more?

I will really appreciate your answers and I am really eager to hear it. I hope I get your answers soon. Thank you for going through my questions. This seems to be my last chance (although I still may need a follow up question until the problem is gone). Any other advice, I will very much appreciate it, because I am not even sure I have asked all the questions I will need.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Take it as soon as possible

Detailed Answer:
Hello sir, sad to know about all this what happened.
Yes fol 123 is just a simple vitamin pill and can be safely taken even if you are planning for abortion.
You can very well approach any gynecologist there in OPD and ask for abortion directly because it is completely legal as both you have crossed 18 years of age and thus you don't need to bring your parents to give consent for same.
Abortion pills are simple to take and thus discuss with your gynecologist the full dose and pattern of intake but in case you have any questions about it, I will be there to guide you anytime.
Just a simple precaution about it that take it in morning time so that if at all there occurs excess of bleeding it can be managed easily in day time only.
Though these pills act within 1 hour but always stay approachable to her so that no one else gets to know about it.
Abortion pills are successful nicely till 7-8 weeks after which efficacy declines steadily so don't delay it possible.
You can talk to me anytime, I will be happy to help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina
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Dr. Manisha Jain

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Is Pregnancy Possible Despite Taking Emergency Contraceptive Pill?

Brief Answer: Very less chance of pregnancy Detailed Answer: Hello Sir, thanks for trusting health care magic. I completely understand your situation and need to be double sure about all the stuff so as to enter a new smooth life ahead. There are negligible chances of pregnancy if she just spitted saliva the first time as it is a rapidly absorbing drug. Considering she deliberated tried vomiting out the second pill also after say 15-20 mins then also very less chances that while of the pill came out. So overall chances of pregnancy are very very less as all in all she at least took one full pill or more than that even. It is a very effective pill so usually eliminates chances of pregnancy altogether. Just relax and don't keep worrying about it as even if she falls pregnant then it can be easily tackled by simple abortion pills. Take care in future. Regards Dr Manisha