Julie Medical Advisor
The morning-after pill & ovulation
If you’re considering taking the morning-after pill, there might be a lot of questions running through your mind like: Will it work for me? To answer that, we first have to talk about timing. You want to take the morning-after pill, like Julie, as soon as possible because the sooner you take it, the better it will work. Studies have shown that the morning-after pill is 89% effective when taken within 3 days of unprotected sex and potentially even more effective if taken sooner. In addition to timing, effectiveness also depends on where you are in your cycle, like if you’ve ovulated or not.
Here we’ll cover everything you need to know about how Julie's effectiveness can shift depending on where you are in your cycle.
Will the morning-after pill work during ovulation?
Julie, Plan B, and other OTC morning-after pills are highly effective at preventing pregnancy by delaying ovulation. As a refresher, ovulation is when the ovary releases a mature egg, which happens sometime between two periods. The egg moves down the fallopian tube over the course of 12-24 hours, which is when sperm could potentially fertilize it.
Since the morning-after pill stops ovulation, the ovary doesn’t release an egg. When there’s no egg, there can be no fertilization and thus no pregnancy. This is why Julie and other morning-after pills are so effective when taken at the right time.
Now you might be wondering: does the morning-after pill work after ovulation has already happened? If you’ve already ovulated and took the morning-after pill, the pill may not be as effective in preventing pregnancy. However, depending on where you are in your cycle (and a number of other factors) that doesn’t mean you’re automatically pregnant.
If you're unsure whether you've already ovulated or not, there’s no harm in taking Julie. It might work for you, and if it doesn’t, it can’t harm you or a fertilized egg.
How successful is the morning-after pill during ovulation?
Levonorgestrel, the hormone in all OTC morning-after pills, prevents ovulation if taken in the pre-ovulatory period, aka before you’ve ovulated. Levonorgestrel works by blocking the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, which is when the ovary releases an egg. If levonorgestrel is taken on the day of the LH surge or later, the egg will have already been released, which means it can be fertilized by a sperm. If the egg has been fertilized, there is a chance that it will implant on the uterine lining and turn into a pregnancy.
Basically, if your egg has already been released (ovulation), then the morning-after pill may not work, 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, meaning they never turn into a pregnancy. Not sure if you’ve ovulated? Here’s how to tell.
Does the morning-after pill work after ovulation?
Morning-after pills, like Julie, prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation. They have no effect during or after ovulation. If you've ovulated in the last 24 hours, the morning-after pill will have no effect. If it’s been over 24 hours since you ovulated, the morning-after pill will not be effective, but your chance of getting pregnant is lower.
The only type of emergency contraception effective during or after ovulation is the copper intrauterine device (IUD), which must be inserted by a healthcare professional within 5 days after unprotected sex. Copper repels sperm and prevents it from fertilizing the egg.
The best way to prevent pregnancy throughout your cycle is to use a regular form of birth control, including:
- Daily birth control pill
- IUD
- Condom
- Patch
- Vaginal ring
- Shot
- Implant
Understanding your menstrual cycle—and when you're most likely to ovulate—can help you know if taking Julie will be effective after unprotected sex.
What is ovulation?
Ovulation is part of your menstrual cycle. A new menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period. After your period, your hormones tell your ovaries to prep another egg. Ovulation is the phase in which a mature egg is released from the ovary.
Two things might occur after the egg is released:
- Fertilization: when the egg is released, it may be fertilized by a sperm if sperm is present in the fallopian tube. If the egg is fertilized and implants on your uterine lining, then a pregnancy will begin.
- Non-fertilization: after release, the egg will survive for 12-24 hours. If the egg isn't fertilized by a sperm, it will dissolve. After that, the uterine lining will shed during your period.
Ovulation takes place in between your periods. For instance, if you have a 28-day cycle, ovulation would occur around or on day 14. But every woman's cycle is different, and the exact day of ovulation can differ from month to month and person to person.
How do you know when you're ovulating?
While ovulation occurs monthly, it's not easy to predict. Even if you track your menstrual cycle, ovulation can be delayed by external factors like stress, diet changes, or even changing time zones.
Here are three ways to know if you're ovulating:
Track your cycle
If your period happens every 28 to 30 days, ovulation normally occurs on day 14 or 15 if you're counting from the first day of your period. If you're feeling ovulation symptoms (listed below), then there's a good chance you're ovulating.
Discharge
Vaginal discharge often changes quality around the time of ovulation and provides more of a physical sign. This discharge is normally clear and slippery.
Listen to your body
Your body might feel like it's going through odd changes that last for about 24 hours. You may have slight pain in your abdomen or mood swings.
Ovulation symptoms
The hormonal changes that signal your ovaries to release an egg can cause certain signs or symptoms. But these symptoms can also be helpful indicators of ovulation.
Symptoms include:
Pain
You may feel a twinge of pain or cramping. Known as mittelschmerz, or "middle pain "in German, this pain usually occurs each month from the left or right side of your lower abdomen, depending on which ovary is releasing the egg that month.
Changes in saliva
Estrogen and progesterone can change the consistency of dried saliva before or during ovulation, causing distinct patterns to form. But drinking, smoking, eating, and brushing your teeth can mask this change.
Body temperature
Basal body temperature (BBT), or your temperature when you first wake up in the morning, goes up or down by about 1°F during the 24-hour window after ovulation happens. If you don't become pregnant, your body will stay at that temperature until your period starts.
Changes in cervical mucus
Remember how we talked about discharge? Leading up to ovulation, you may end up seeing a change in your vaginal discharge because of the increase of this fluid in your cervix. This fluid thickens, increases, and sometimes takes on the consistency of egg whites. This mucus helps transport sperm to an egg.
How to track your ovulation cycle
There are a few different ways to track your cycle. But remember, everybody is different and external factors can influence your menstrual cycle, making it potentially tricky to be super precise. The most common forms of tracking your ovulation cycle include:
Calendar method
There are various calendars and trackers you can use to track your menstrual cycle, including the days leading up to ovulation.
Standard days
Tracking the last day and first day of your periods can be an effective way to count down to ovulation. If your period happens every 28 to 30 days, ovulation will generally occur in the middle of that. But keep in mind that some people have menstrual cycles as short as 21 days and as long as 35—how you track comes down to your unique cycle.
Basal body temperature method
Take your oral temperature and track your BBT daily by recording it in a journal or an app. Take note of fluctuations before and during ovulation.
Cervical mucus method
Vaginal discharge is also another way to track your ovulation cycle. Secretions will change before ovulation to help prepare for potential sperm.
When to take a pregnancy test
It depends on when your period usually starts. However, periods aren't always consistent, so it can be hard to tell.
-If you regularly track your cycle and your period is a week late, take a pregnancy test.
-If you took Julie or another OTC morning-after pill, wait three weeks to see if your period arrives.
-If you didn't use an OTC morning-after pill, take a pregnancy test two weeks after sex.
When used as directed, Julie is safe and effective. Common side effects may include changes in your period, nausea, lower stomach pain, tiredness, headache, dizziness and breast tenderness. Julie will not protect you from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any medication
Emergency contraceptives like Julie work when you take them after sex. That’s because emergency contraception prevents pregnancy by delaying when you ovulate. By taking emergency contraception before sex, you may not be delaying ovulation long enough.
No. Julie is not what is commonly called “the abortion pill” or “medication abortion”. The active ingredient in the abortion pill is mifepristone. Pregnancy needs a hormone called progesterone to grow normally. Mifepristone blocks your body’s own progesterone, stopping the pregnancy from growing. Julie does not and will not impact an existing pregnancy, and works by delaying ovulation before there is a pregnancy.
The FDA recently made an update in December 2022 to remove any language suggesting that Julie may prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. We are currently working on removing this outdated disclaimer but you may still see it present on some of our packaging in the meantime. Please disregard these statements because they are out of date. Julie will not impact an existing pregnancy.
Julie is an emergency contraception you can take after:
- You didn’t use any form of birth control or had unprotected sex
- There was an issue with your regular birth control method (eg, the condom broke or slipped)
- You missed a dose (or more) of your regular birth control pill
Taking Julie will not impact your ability to get pregnant.
After taking Julie you can continue on with your regular birth control method if you have one (for example, continue taking birth control pills).
You will know Julie has been effective when you get your next period, which should come at the expected time, or within a week of the expected time. If your period is delayed beyond 1 week, it is possible you may be pregnant. You should get a pregnancy test and follow up with your healthcare professional.
Julie is a backup or emergency method and should not be used as a regular birth control method. Consult with your doctor about a birth control method that makes sense for you.
Please know that taking a dose of Julie will only protect you from one instance of unprotected sex, it will not prevent pregnancy from unprotected sex over the coming days or weeks. If you have unprotected sex in the future and want to prevent pregnancy, be sure to take a new dose of Julie and talk to your doctor about the best birth control options for you.
Your menstrual bleeding patterns may change temporarily after using levonorgestrel. If you find that your period is more than a week late, take a pregnancy test to confirm whether the contraceptive has worked.
Julie can be used by all women, regardless of weight but women with BMIs above 29.9 have a pregnancy risk of 5.8% - meaning that out of every 100 women who take Julie, 6 may become pregnant. We advise that you speak with your doctor for further information on how this may affect you personally.
Take Julie tablets orally (swallow it). It is preferable to take it with water, and you can take it with or without food. Do not insert Julie vaginally.
Julie is not an abortion pill and will not harm an existing pregnancy nor will it be effective if a woman is already pregnant.
Julie is a progestin‑only emergency contraception product that helps prevent pregnancy before it starts when taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex.
Julie is a backup method of preventing pregnancy and should not be used as regular birth control. Use as directed.
Julie is effective up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex. The sooner it’s taken after unprotected sex, the better it works.
Julie can significantly decrease your chances of getting pregnant. When used as directed, about 7 out of every 8 women who could have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking Julie. The most important factor affecting how well Julie works is how quickly it is taken. When taken as directed within 72 hours after unprotected sex or birth control failure, Julie can significantly decrease the chance that a woman will get pregnant. In fact, the earlier Julie is taken after unprotected intercourse, the better it works.
Emergency contraception is not 100% effective, which is why it is critical that women have a regular birth control method. If you have any further questions, we encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider.
Since emergency contraception can affect the length of your menstrual cycle, your period might come about a week later or earlier than usual after taking Julie. If your period is more than one week late, consider the possibility of pregnancy.
No. No one needs a prescription to purchase Julie or EC. However, some insurances require a prescription for reimbursement. Some pharmacies and places where EC is sold may tell you that you need a prescription. You do not.
You do not need to see a doctor before or after taking Julie. You do not need a prescription from a doctor. We do encourage you to speak to a doctor you feel comfortable with about sex, reproductive health, and contraception.
No. We know this is a common misconception so let’s break it down. Using Julie (no matter how many times you take it) does not affect your fertility — and it will not prevent you from becoming pregnant in the future. You should feel free to use Julie whenever you think it’s necessary. Julie (and all EC) is not recommended as an ongoing form of birth control because it’s not as effective at preventing pregnancy as birth control methods like the IUD, patch, pill, ring, or shot. Also, frequent use of EC may cause periods to become irregular and unpredictable. That’s it!
Yes. You are not alone. Often times, people who buy EC are feeling stressed out, concerned, embarrassed, confused or ashamed. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone, you have nothing to be ashamed about, and the Julie community is here to support you. By taking Julie after unprotected sex, you are taking control of your future and taking a safe, effective, approved method of preventing pregnancy.
