To avoid pregnancy after one month of unprotected sex, the options differ significantly from immediate post-coital emergency contraception, which is effective only within 5 days after intercourse. At one month, emergency contraception pills or copper IUD insertion are no longer effective options.

Options After One Month

1. Medical Abortion (Under Medical Supervision)

• If pregnancy has already occurred and is within early stages (up to about 10 weeks), medical abortion using prescription medications such as mifepristone and misoprostol can be used to terminate the pregnancy. These medications induce uterine contractions to expel the pregnancy and require close medical supervision due to possible complications and side effects like bleeding lasting up to two weeks

2. Hormonal or Saline Methods

• Hormonal injections (e.g., prostaglandins) or saline injections into the uterus are other medical procedures to induce abortion, but these are invasive and require professional healthcare support

3. Natural or Traditional Methods (Not Scientifically Proven)

• Some suggest natural substances like unripe papaya, raw cinnamon, parsley, pineapple, or vitamin C supplements to induce menstruation or uterine contractions, but these methods lack strong scientific evidence and are not reliable or safe for terminating an established pregnancy

4. Avoiding Pregnancy in Future Cycles

• If pregnancy has not occurred or you want to prevent pregnancy in future cycles after one month, consider:
  • Using reliable contraception methods such as condoms, hormonal birth control, IUDs, etc.
  • Tracking ovulation to avoid unprotected sex during fertile days

* The pull-out method is less reliable and carries a risk of pregnancy

Important Notes

• Emergency contraception pills (levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate) and copper IUDs are effective only within 5 days after unprotected sex and cannot prevent pregnancy after one month

• If you suspect you are pregnant after one month of unprotected sex and want to avoid continuing the pregnancy, consult a healthcare provider immediately for safe options.
• Avoid unproven home remedies as they may be ineffective or harmful.
• Emergency contraception does not cause abortion; it prevents pregnancy before implantation

In summary, after one month, preventing pregnancy from a prior unprotected sex event is no longer possible with emergency contraception. If pregnancy has occurred and termination is desired, medical abortion under professional care is the recommended approach. For future prevention, use regular contraceptive methods and ovulation tracking.