Plus-size 14st model claims male pharmacist told her 'you’re too big for one morning after pill' and doubled her emergency contraception - causing thrush, vaginosis and an agonising 9-day period

  • Lucy Bennett, from London, was told she was 'too big' for one morning after pill
  • Pharmacist said she should take two pills immediately to prevent pregnancy 
  • Explained: 'What transpired was a kick in the gut to my mental health, thrush, vaginosis and the WORST period of my entire life'
  • Nurse later told her she had been prescribed the double dose incorrectly 

A model has revealed how she was left with 'the worst period of her life' after her pharmacist advised she take two morning after pills because she was 'too big.'

Lucy Bennett, from London, who said she weighs around 14st, was told by the clinician not to take just one pill, and instead to double her dose because of her size. 

Posting on Instagram, she revealed: 'What transpired was a kick in the gut to my mental health, thrush, vaginosis and the WORST period of my entire life. I had pains I thought you only experienced in child birth.' 

Lucy went on to attend a sexual health clinic where a nurse told her that she had been prescribed the double dose incorrectly, explaining: 'She told me there was no evidence to support what the pharmacist had said and that his knowledge was beyond out of date.'  

Lucy Bennett, from London, revealed how she was left with 'the worst period of her life' after her pharmacist advised she take two morning after pills because she was 'too big' (pictured)

Lucy Bennett, from London, revealed how she was left with 'the worst period of her life' after her pharmacist advised she take two morning after pills because she was 'too big' (pictured) 

Posting online last week, the model, who is signed to Wilhelmina Models London and has posed for the likes of Dorothy Perkins and Body Shop, wrote: 'Soooo, I got laid (yay for me) and had the unpleasant experience of needing the morning after pill. Hey we all f*** up don’t we?!'

Lucy, who told Refinery29 she had previously had an abortion and used a fertility tracking app as a method of contraception, went to the doctors after there was a condom mishap'.

She said she was taken into a side room by a male pharmacist where she was asked a variety of questions, including her weight, which she said was around 14st

He told her that women who weigh more than 70kg should take a double dose of the morning after pill.  

Lucy, was told by the clinician not to take just one pill, and instead to double her dose because of her size (pictured)

Lucy, was told by the clinician not to take just one pill, and instead to double her dose because of her size (pictured) 

Posting on Instagram, the model revealed how she felt 'apprehensive' after the pharmacist told her to double up the dose of the morning after pill

Posting on Instagram, the model revealed how she felt 'apprehensive' after the pharmacist told her to double up the dose of the morning after pill 

She said: 'When I got to the pharmacy I was told by the pharmacist that I was "too big" for one pill and that I would need to take two there and then.

Can a woman's weight impact the efficacy of emergency contraception?  

The link between weight and the morning after pill's effectiveness has been raised in previous studies but has proved controversial.

Despite the reported link, previous guidance in the UK has not been clear on the subject until now.

The issue first came to light in 2012, when an Edinburgh University study found that obese women were more than three times as likely as those of normal weight to become pregnant after taking the morning after pill.

The link was particularly strong for levonorgestrel-based pills.

Then in 2013, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) forced the makers of Levonelle (Norlevo in the US) to add a warning to its packaging that the product might be less effective for overweight women.

But after a review, the agency had a u-turn in 2014 and said it is suitable for heavier women.

In July 2016, a small study - with just 10 participants - found the amount of the hormone present in the 'overweight' women was 50 per cent less than in their lighter counterparts, meaning there was an increased risk of pregnancy.

Meanwhile in 2017, guidelines warned the morning-after pill could fail when taken by those who weigh 11 stone or more.

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'I was pretty apprehensive about this, especially as someone no longer on contraceptives due to the impact they all had on my mental and physical health over the years, but under the guidance of not wanting to end up pregnant, I took them both.'

A week later, Lucy phoned her GP because her labia was 'red raw and bleeding' and she was struggling with an 'incredibly heavy and painful period'.

After being left in agonising pain, Lucy decided to go to a check up at the sexual health clinic.

She explained: 'I was seen by a female nurse who almost instantly told me I’d been prescribed incorrectly. 

'She said I was only to have one morning after pill if this ever happened again and no wonder I was feeling so shocking.'

Lucy continued: 'For me, this is only the most recent tip of the iceberg when it comes to struggling with diagnosing and treating female health issues correctly and I’ve definitely found myself feeling bitter about how for women it seems sex is never "no strings attached".

'Besides that I just wanted anyone with my body type to know about my experience and not to feel pressured by the white coats calling you fat.' 

In a follow up video posted to TikTok, she commented: 'When our bodies are reacting in a certain way, why is no one reacting to this?

'Just because it's an accepted guideline, why are we not questioning why we have to suffer like this?' 

Guidelines released in 2017 warned the morning-after pill could fail when taken by those who weigh 11 stone or more.

Those who have a body mass index (BMI) that is over 26 are also at risk according to new guidance from sexual health experts. 

Levonelle and ellaOne are the two most popular morning-after pills available and both are thought to be less effective for heavier women.

It is understood the drug may be diluted in bigger women or broken down more quickly by their bodies.

The new advice from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) urges pharmacists and doctors to inform women of the risk of failure.

They have been told to recommend two morning-after pills be taken - double the dosage - or to urge the use of the emergency coil instead.

FSRH is a faculty of the Royal College of the Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

The model revealed how she was later seen by a female nurse who told her she had been prescribed the morning after pill incorrectly

The model revealed how she was later seen by a female nurse who told her she had been prescribed the morning after pill incorrectly

At the time, Dr Jane Dickson, vice president of FSRH, said: 'The morning-after pill works by delaying interfering with the release of eggs and disrupting fertilisation through delivering a higher dose of the hormone progestin that is found in regular birth control pills.

'We believe there is evidence to suggest that in heavier women, the drug may be less effective because the drug is diluted in their blood stream.

'The 11 stone figure is based on research. It is something of an arbitrary figure and it may be 15 stone is the danger point for some women. But for safety 11 stone or a BMI over 26 is the level we can say weight may create a risk.'

Dr Dickson explained that larger women worried about pregnancy after contraception failure or unprotected sex could take two morning after tablets.

Lucy said she was determined to share her story because she wants 'anyone with her body type' to 'not feel pressured by the white coats'

Lucy said she was determined to share her story because she wants 'anyone with her body type' to 'not feel pressured by the white coats'

BMI has become a benchmark in measuring whether you're a healthy weight for your height.

FSRH is recommending health professionals advise women that an intrauterine device (IUD, or the coil) is the best emergency contraception.

Dr Dickson said: 'The coil's effectiveness is not affected by a woman's weight as it works differently to prevent fertilisation - it's toxic to sperm and eggs and works locally.

'And weight issues aside, it is more effective than the morning after pill.'

Curve model who weighs 14st reveals how she was told to DOUBLE her dose of the morning after pill

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