The pill known as “morning-after” pill, used as an emergency contraception method is now available in Costa Rica after receiving green light from the Ministry of Health.

Pharmaceutical house Quinfica is the company distributing the “morning-after” pill under the name Posterga, and it will be sold in pharmacies for a price of 18 thousand colones (approximately $31.00 USD).

Posterga will be sold over the counter, it is an option for women after having unprotected sex, it has an effectiveness of 95% if taken within the first 72 hours after the sexual encounter, if taken after this time frame its effectiveness goes down to 55%. It is also recommended for victims of sexual abuse.

The main component of Posterga is levonorgestrel a hormone that is used in lower doses in many birth control pills, preventing or delaying ovulation or interfering with fertilization of the egg.

The Ministry of Health has made emphasis in the fact that this pill is intended as backup contraception only, not as a primary method of birth control.

This option presents side effects that can include nausea or vomiting, headache, fatigue, dizziness, breast tenderness, among others.