The morning after on the internet: usage of and questions to the emergency contraception website

The e-mails point to the need for further research on EC-related questions that cannot be answered with the extant medical literature but are of concern to patients - questions such as bleeding after EC use and sexual intercourse that occurs shortly after taking EC pills. The language that writers use to express themselves reveals how users conceptualize their contraceptive and sexual health experiences. Many writers referred to sex with a hormonal contraceptive but not a barrier contraceptive as “unprotected sex,” suggesting that patients may be using terms that do not mean what medical professionals might expect. E-mails sent to the site also demonstrate the importance of alternative resources that provide accurate medical information for patients who are unable to access health care or to discuss certain subjects with their providers.