I’m pretty sure people in the queue were chatting about me

I’ve taken the morning after pill three times over the last couple of years, each time I have got it from the pharmacy.

Thinking back on the experience of actually asking for the morning after pill, it makes me cringe now. I remember being nervous and slightly embarrassed when asking for it. My first experience was so dreadful. I’m pretty sure people in the queue were chatting about me. I was so embarrassed that I actually thought about not getting it, but then I convinced myself the embarrassment would be better than having a baby. I was only 21.

I was also worried about getting it the second and third time as I had heard rumours that the morning after pill was bad for you and lowered your chances of getting pregnant later in life. But the third time I went, my mind was put at ease by the pharmacist, who reassured me. She made me feel much better. She was also very sympathetic and non-judgemental; I think she could tell I was in a bit of a state.

If I found myself in a situation where I was buying the morning after pill again, even though I know it shouldn’t be embarrassing or a big ordeal, I would feel anxious about it and would probably try to put it off. Many people have taken the morning after pill, and I would never judge anyone for it, but I feel there are some people who do make you feel like you’ve been foolish and a bit irresponsible.

What is #MyMorningAfter? It is a platform for people to share their experiences of taking the morning after pill. No matter why you are googling this, our stories are here to reassure you and show you that you are not alone. By sharing our stories, supporting each other and speaking openly about the morning after pill, we can stop women feeling isolated or ashamed by this experience.

If you have a story to share, and you feel comfortable doing so, please submit below and help us break the taboo and stamp out the stigma.

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