Morning-After Pill

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What is the morning after pill?

The morning after pill is an emergency contraceptive pill that works for up to 3 days (72 hours) after you have unprotected sex. Though it is effective for up to 3 days after unprotected intercourse, the sooner you take the pill, the better chance you have of preventing pregnancy. Ideally, you should take the morning after pill within 12 to stand the best chance of avoiding conception.

The morning after pill currently prescribed in the UK is called Levonelle One Step or Levonelle 1500. This is often called the post-coital pill (PCP) or the emergency contraceptive (EC) by doctors. Another option is ellaOne, which works in a similar way, but can be used for up to 5 days after unprotected sex.

How does a morning after pill work?

The morning after pill is an emergency contraceptive pill that prevents pregnancy. It does not work if you are already pregnant. It contains a female hormone type called levonorgestrel which works to prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg and alters the lining of your womb so that a fertilised egg cannot embed itself there.

Is the morning after pill dangerous to take?

The emergency contraceptive pills that are prescribed today very rarely cause any side effects. Though you may feel a little sick after taking it, only 1 in 60 women are actually physically sick after using emergency contraceptive pills.

If you are sick within 3 hours of taking the morning after pill, you should seek another pill from a doctor immediately. This is because its effect will have been lost, and pregnancy will not have been prevented.

You may experience the following side effects after taking a morning after pill:

• 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 take the morning after pill if you are over the age of 18 and you have had unprotected sex or your regular contraceptive has failed.

How effective is it?

The morning after pill is at its most effective the sooner you take it after unprotected sex. Emergency contraceptive pills prevent 95% of pregnancies if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex, 85% after 48 hours and 58% if taken within 72 hours. The morning after pill is not effective if you vomit within 3 hours of taking the pill.

Are there any other precautions?

After taking a morning after pill, your next period may come early or late. If it doesn’t occur within a couple of days of the expected time, consult your doctor. You should not use a morning after pill if you are breastfeeding.

A morning after pill will not protect you from pregnancy once after unprotected sex. For the rest of your menstrual cycle, you should continue to use a condom, even if you are already taking a daily contraceptive pill. The morning after pill will not protect against ectopic pregnancies, although these are rare. If you experience lower tummy pain or abnormal bleeding in the weeks after you take the pill, consult your doctor immediately.

Please note, this service is only available as a precautionary measure. If you have experienced contraceptive failure and require emergency contraception immediately, our service is not for you - You should consult your doctor as soon as possible.