Can overusing Postinor 2 hurt my baby?
Dear Dr Mitchell,
Last year I took the Postinor 2 pill as if it was a sweet. I took two every month. I am now four months pregnant. Can it affect me now in any way possible?
Postinor 2 is a form of emergency contraception which contains the hormone levonorgestel. This is a form of progesterone and the preparation entails taking two pills within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, 12 hours apart. This is 75 per cent effective in preventing an unwanted pregnancy and is not suitable as a regular contraceptive method which should be at least 99 per cent effective in preventing an unwanted pregnancy with proper usage.
Postinor 2 should only be taken about twice in a month and the more often it is taken within the month the less effective it will be in preventing an unwanted pregnancy.
A low dose oral contraceptive preparation should be used instead or some other form of contraception such as condoms, Norplant, the contraceptive injection or the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD). If you become pregnant after taking the Postinor 2 it does not interfere with the pregnancy and does not cause any birth defects.
Postinor 2 will not work if you are already pregnant since it does not cause an abortion of an already implanted embryo.
There is no need to be worried as you and the foetus will be perfectly fine.
Best wishes.
Dr Sharmaine Mitchell is an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Send questions and comments via e-mail to allwoman@jamaicaobserver.com or fax to 968-2025. We regret that we cannot supply personal answers.
