How does the morning after pill work?

The morning after pill works by preventing, or delaying, ovulation. This means that when the sperm enter the fallopian tubes, there is no egg there to fertilise so no pregnancy can occur. By taking emergency contraception as soon as possible after unprotected sex you reduce your chances of ovulating. If ovulation takes place between unprotected sex and taking the morning after pill, the pill will be ineffective in preventing pregnancy.

Remember that no contraceptive is 100% effective. The effectiveness of the morning after pill depends on when you ovulate and the time between having unprotected sex and taking emergency contraception.

If you have taken emergency contraception but your next period doesn’t arrive, or is over 7 days late, or is unusually light or unusually heavy or if you experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or breast pain or if you have any doubt about being pregnant, then you should take a pregnancy test.

EllaOne^® is suitable for any woman of child bearing age.

The sooner you take the morning after pill the more effective it will be. Pills containing levonorgestrel are effective for up to 72 hours (3 days), whereas EllaOne^® is effective for up to 120 hours (5 days). With either of these emergency contraceptive pills, the longer you leave it, the less effective it will be, so don’t delay.

If you vomit within three hours of taking EllaOne^®, you should consult your pharmacist, doctor or healthcare provider in order to take another tablet.

Yes! This nickname is given to EllaOne^® because it can be effective for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Despite the nickname, it is important to remember that the longer you wait, the less effective emergency contraception will be. EllaOne^® is most effective when taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex.

Any medicine can come with potential side effects but these will vary from person to person.The most common side effects are nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, vomiting, headache, dizziness, painful period, pelvic pain, breast tenderness, tiredness, mood swings, muscle pain and back pain, but everyone is different.

After taking EllaOne^®, most women have a normal period at the expected time. But some may have their period later or earlier than normal. If your period is more than 7 days late or is unusually light or unusually heavy or if you experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or breast pain or if you have any doubt about being pregnant, you should perform a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant.