Is it OK to take the morning-after pill if I have the Mirena IUD?

By Emily @ Planned Parenthood | Jan. 22, 2015, 5:20 p.m.

I have a mirena iud inserted, can i still take the morning after pill ? If so, which one should i take? Are there possble side effects for taking both?

If you have the Mirena IUD, there’s no need to take emergency contraception (AKA the morning-after pill). Mirena is already more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, and taking the morning-after pill isn’t going help make it more effective.

However, if you think your Mirena may have slipped out, using emergency contraception is a good idea. It’s effective up to five days after unprotected sex. There are a couple of different kinds of emergency contraception. Find out which type of emergency contraception is right for you.

Emergency contraception can sometimes have side effects, but they aren’t serious and they usually go away after a day or two. The most common side effects are nausea, breast tenderness, dizziness, or headaches. You may also get your period earlier or later than usual, or it may be lighter or heavier than it usually is.

But if you’re not having any problems with your Mirena, you don’t need to worry about taking emergency contraception.

-Emily at Planned Parenthood

Tags: birth control, emergency contraception, Mirena, IUDs