Morning After Pill

The morning after pill is an emergency form of contraception that can be taken after you have had unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. Though some pills are effective for up to 5 days after unprotected sex, the sooner you take an emergency contraception pill, the more effective it will be.

It is recommended that you take the morning after pill within 12 hours to stand the best chance of preventing conception. Our service offers women a confidential way of receiving the morning after pill ellaOne. This is often referred to as the post-coital pill (PCP) or the emergency contraceptive (EC)

How does a morning after pill work?

A morning after pill can be taken up to 3 days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. It will not work if you are already pregnant. It contains a female hormone called levonorgestrel which works by stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg and changes the lining of your womb so a fertilised egg cannot embed itself there.

Is the morning after pill dangerous to take?

Emergency contraception pills rarely cause any side effects. A small minority of women may feel a little sick after taking the morning after pill, but only 1 in 60 women actually physically vomit after taking it.

If you vomit within 3 hours of taking the morning after pill, you should immediately seek advice from your doctor. If you have vomited, the effect of the pill may have been lost and conception may not have been prevented.

You may experience the following side effects after using emergency contraception:

• Nausea
• Bleeding not related to menstruation
• Tiredness

In some rare cases you may experience:

• A delayed period
• Irregular bleeding
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Breast tenderness
• Headaches
• Lower abdominal pain
• Dizziness

When should you use the morning after pill?

You should only use the morning after pill if you are over the age of 18 and you have had unprotected sex or your contraception has failed. Our service is available to women who are looking to purchase the morning after pill as a precautionary measure. If you immediately require emergency contraception, this service is not for you.

How effective is it?

The morning after pill is most effective the sooner you take it after you have unprotected sex. Emergency contraceptive pills prevent up to 95% of pregnancies if they are taken within 24 hours after having unprotected sex, 85% after 48 hours and 58% if they are taken up to 72 hours after. If you vomit within 3 hours of taking an emergency contraceptive pill, it will not be as effective at preventing pregnancy.

What treatments are available?

Levonelle

Levonelle is an oral emergency contraceptive pill that should be taken within 12 hours of having unprotected sex for it to be most effective. Levonelle will not be effective if you take it 72 hours after you have unprotected sex. You can take Levonelle at any time during your menstrual cycle, unless your period is late - you cannot use Levonelle if you suspect you are already pregnant. It’s recommended that you use condoms until you get your next period after using Levonelle. This is advised even if you are using continuous contraceptive pills.

Levonelle will not always prevent you from becoming pregnant. If you do become pregnant there is a chance you may have an ectopic pregnancy. This is where the egg grows in the fallopian tubes, and not in the womb, which can be highly dangerous. For this reason, it is advised that you consult your doctor immediately if you have any sudden lower abdominal pains or your following period is shorter or lighter than usual.

ellaOne

ellaOne is a new oral contraceptive pill that is effective for up to 5 days after you have unprotected sex or your contraception has failed. Tests have shown that for every 100 women that takes ellaOne during this 120 hour period, only 2 will become pregnant. ellaOne works by changing the natural hormone progesterone. This stops your ovaries from releasing an egg and alters the environment of your womb.

You should not take ellaOne if you think you are already pregnant. And it is advised that you do not take ellaOne more than once in a menstrual cycle. You should use condoms after taking ellaOne until your next period arrives. If you have unprotected sex again after taking it, ellaOne will not work. Until your next period you should use condoms, even if you are taking the ongoing contraceptive pill. And you should continue to take your contraceptive pills as normal after taking ellaOne. It is not suitable for women who are breastfeeding.