Debunking every morning-after pill myth
The morning-after pill, like Julie, is not an abortion pill—it prevents pregnancy before it starts and does not harm a fetus. It works by preventing or delaying ovulation and is 89% effective if taken within 72 hours, and is most effective the sooner you take it. If your BMI is over 25, it may be a little less effective, but it’s still safe and reduces pregnancy risk. The morning-after pill won’t affect your future fertility and is safe to use more than once. Anyone of any age or gender can buy it—no ID required. Debunk more myths below...
Let’s get to denbunking. There’s a lot of information – and even more misinformation — out there about emergency contraception (EC) and the morning-after pill. We’re breaking down some of the most common myths about the morning-after pill so you can be equipped with the information needed to make the best decision for you.
The morning-after pill is not the abortion pill: TRUE
Some people confuse the morning-after pill, like Julie’s, and the abortion pill, but they’re actually very different medications. The Julie Morning After Pill™ is taken after unprotected sex to stop a pregnancy from starting, while the abortion pill is taken after a pregnancy has already begun. The Julie Morning After Pill™ is made up of levonorgestrel, a hormone that can stop ovulation from occurring to halt fertilization before it even happens. The abortion pill, on the other hand, is actually two pills: mifepristone and misoprostol, which stop an already established pregnancy.
The morning-after pill can harm a fetus: FALSE
The morning-after pill works by stopping ovulation. Ovulation happens before a pregnancy is conceived, which is why the Julie Morning After Pill™ is able to prevent a pregnancy before it starts. The Julie Morning After Pill™ cannot end a pregnancy that has already started and cannot harm a fetus. In a that followed children whose mothers had taken levonorgestrel, there were “no effects on the physical growth, mental development, or birth defects in children born from pregnancies in which EC failed.”
Taking multiple birth control pills is the same as taking the morning-after pill: FALSE
Heard of the Yuzpe method? It involves taking multiple birth control pills as a form of emergency contraception after unprotected sex. A study showed that this method was able to reduce pregnancies by 70% and 77% (using two different methodologies) when taken as directed. However, the Yuzpe method is generally not recommended when the morning-after pill, like Julie’s, is available because it has more side effects and is less effective (the morning-after pill is 89% effective). When in doubt, it’s always best to ask your provider what method of emergency contraception is right for you.
The morning-after pill doesn’t work if your BMI is over 25: FALSE
Some studies have shown decreased effectiveness of the morning-after pill in people who weigh over 165 pounds or have a BMI over 25, but the science is limited and more research needs to be done. One study showed that the risk of pregnancy for women with a BMI over 30 who took levonorgestrel was 2%, compared to 1.2% for the entire group, which included people with lower and higher BMIs. So while effectiveness decreases as BMI increases, the morning-after pill can still be safe and effective regardless of your BMI.
If BMI is a consideration for you, there are a couple of other emergency contraception options that are more effective – they just require a medical provider. The first option is Ella, a prescription morning-after pill that is more effective for those with a BMI under 30, but its efficacy goes down with higher BMIs. The other option is the intrauterine device (IUD). An IUD needs to be inserted by a trained professional within 5 days of unprotected sex, and it is incredibly effective for all BMIs.
Alcohol makes the morning-after pill less effective: FALSE
There are no known interactions between the morning-after pill and alcohol.
The morning-after pill is legal in all 50 states: TRUE
The Julie Morning After Pill™ is FDA-approved and legal in all 50 states. You can pick it up at Target, CVS, Walmart and Amazon or get it delivered now through GoPuff, UberEats, Instacart and Doordash. Not only is the morning-after pill fully legal, it’s available for purchase without an ID and without a prescription. Find a store near you.
You can take the morning-after pill up to three days after unprotected sex: TRUE
The sooner you take it, the better it works. Levonorgestrel, the main ingredient in the Julie Morning After Pill™ and other morning-after pills, is 89% effective when taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex
The morning-after pill affects your fertility: FALSE
The morning-after pill can prevent a pregnancy from occurring but has no effect on your ability to get pregnant in the future, no matter how many times you take it.
The morning-after pill protects you from pregnancy for a few days: FALSE
Morning-after pills like Julie’s temporarily stop ovulation, but they only protect you from the sexual encounter you just had, not future ones. If you have unprotected sex again, there’s a new chance for sperm to fertilize an egg, which is a new opportunity for a pregnancy to develop. TLDR: Keep the Julie Morning After Pill™ on you…just in case.
You need to be 18-years-old to buy the morning-after pill: FALSE
Anyone of any age can buy the morning-after pill, like Julie’s, on Target, CVS, Walmart and Amazon or get it delivered now through GoPuff, UberEats, Instacart and Doordash, without an ID. Find a store near you.
The morning-after pill has side effects: (SOMETIMES) TRUE
Like any medication, the morning-after pill comes with some side effects, but most are fairly mild and will pass after a day or two. The most common ones are delayed period, spotting, nausea, lower stomach (abdominal) pain, tiredness, headache, dizziness, breast pain, vomiting, and cramping. If you vomit within the first two hours after taking the pill, it’s best to check with a doctor to see if a second dose is needed. Read more about potential Julie Morning After Pill™ side effects and why they occur here.
The morning-after pill works during ovulation: FALSE
The Julie Morning After Pill™ works by pausing ovulation before it starts. So if an egg has been released by the time you take the pill, it will not have an impact. But that doesn’t automatically mean that you’re pregnant. In fact, one-third to one-half of all fertilized eggs never implant on the uterine lining anyway, meaning they never turn into a pregnancy. However, the best way to determine if you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after taking the Julie Morning After Pill™ (or after your missed period).
Not sure if you’ve ovulated? Here’s how to tell.
The morning-after pill is safe for people at any weight: TRUE
While there is evidence that the morning-after pill, like Julie’s, can be less effective for people with a BMI over 25, it is still safe to take and is FDA-approved for all weights. Read more about the effectiveness of the Julie Morning After Pill™ and different BMIs here.
It’s safe to take the morning-after pill multiple times: TRUE
While it’s always best to use a consistent form of birth control like the pill, IUD, patch, ring, or a condom to protect against pregnancy, it’s totally safe to take the morning-after pill multiple times. Beyond the side effects and temporary changes to your cycle, there are no long-term effects of taking the Julie Morning After Pill™ and it does not affect your ability to get pregnant in the future.
Men can’t buy the morning-after pill: FALSE
There are no gender restrictions for buying the morning-after pill. Anyone can pick up a box of the Julie Morning After Pill™ at Target, CVS, Walmart and Amazon or get it delivered now through GoPuff, UberEats, Instacart and Doordash, without an ID. Find a store near you.
The morning-after pill can protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs): FALSE
Morning-after pills like Julie’s do not protect against STIs. For STI concerns, please see a healthcare provider who can talk to you about effective methods of STI protection and birth control and answer any questions you may have.
While we love to share useful and helpful information, the above shouldn’t replace the advice of your healthcare professional. For questions about birth control and other women’s health issues, please talk to your doctor.
Julie wants to keep young women in the driver’s seat of their own stories and provide them with the tools necessary for a happy, healthy sex life.
We know (and have lived!) through the ups and downs of young adulthood firsthand, and we aim to normalize the events, conversations, and questions that come during this period to help destigmatize sexual health. We believe women should live life with total freedom — starting with their ability to choose how, when, and if they become pregnant.
We know that women can make the best choices for themselves when equipped with the right information. We don’t take sexual education lightly and are committed to sharing accurate and factual information through rigorous planning and QA processes. In fact, all Julie content is reviewed by at least two board-certified doctors on our medical board. Learn more about them here.
For more details on our editorial process, see here.
Tessa Commers, MD, FAAP, MS is a board-certified pediatrician based in the Seattle area with a particular interest in adolescent health and sexual education. In addition to clinical practice and serving as Head of Medical at Julie, Tessa also founded AskDoctorT — an education platform with over a million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube — aimed at improving adolescent health literacy and body confidence. She also hosted and wrote the puberty podcast “That’s Totally Normal!” and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and educational initiatives focused on child and adolescent wellbeing.
Education: Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City – Pediatric Residency; University of Nebraska Medical Center – Doctor of Medicine (MD); University of Nebraska Medical Center – Master of Science (MS, Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy); New York University – Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Dr. Jennifer M. Peña, MD, FACP, AAHIVS is a board-certified internal medicine physician and physician leader with more than 20 years of experience in primary care and women’s health. An Army combat veteran, Jennifer served in the White House Medical Unit under two presidential administrations, including as primary physician to the Vice President of the United States.
She also serves as chief medical officer, medical director, practice owner, and advisor to healthcare and health tech organizations across the U.S., the Caribbean, and beyond. Jennifer’s work in medicine includes appearances on CNN, BBC, MSNBC, Univisión, and more, as well as being named one of Business Insider’s “30 Leaders Under 40 Changing Healthcare” and Veteran of the Year by Latina Style magazine.
Education: Walter Reed Army Medical Center – Internal Medicine Residency; William Beaumont Army Medical Center – Internal Medicine Internship; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine – Doctor of Medicine (MD); Yale University – Bachelor of Science (BS)
