ellaOne

After 5 days (120 hours) of unprotected sex, take ellaOne.

You can take ellaOne at any time during your menstrual cycle.

According to current research, ellaOne can prevent pregnancy for up to 5 days after unprotected sex, but it should be taken as soon as possible. It has a 2.5-fold higher efficacy than levonorgestrel (sometimes branded as Levonelle).

If you get sick within 3 hours of taking ellaOne, you should take another tablet right away.

It will not prevent you from becoming pregnant if you have unprotected sex after taking ellaOne. You should use condoms every time you have sex after taking the tablet and until your next period arrives.

Ulipristal acetate is one of the active ingredients in ellaOne. This chemical prevents or delays the release of an egg (ovulating) in your ovaries, which protects you from pregnancy.

Most women, including those who are unable to use the combined pill or a contraceptive patch, can use emergency contraception.

You will be unable to take the pill if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. If you have severe asthma that requires oral steroids, or if you’re taking medications like St John’s Wort or certain treatments for indigestion, epilepsy, HIV, TB, or fungal infections, you won’t be able to take ellaOne.

Irregular bleeding, headaches, nausea (feeling sick), dizziness, and abdominal (tummy) pain are the most common ellaOne side effects. You should get a pregnancy test if your period is missed or late, and you have these symptoms after taking ellaOne.

See the patient information leaflet for a complete list of side effects and how to use it correctly. If you have any concerns about side effects, please contact us through your Patient Record.

When you take ellaOne, you may experience a headache, tummy ache, nausea, or vomiting. It may also cause your period to come sooner, later, or be more painful than usual.

Only when ellaOne is taken prior to ovulation is it effective. When ellaOne was compared to Levonorgestrel, it was found to be more effective later in the menstrual cycle.

In comparison to Levonorgestrel, ellaOne has been shown to work later in the menstrual cycle.

You can use ellaOne more than once during your menstrual cycle, but it should not be used as your primary method of contraception.

Some women may experience bleeding after taking ellaOne, but this is a small percentage (less than 10%) of the time, and most of the time the bleeding is only spotting.

The only way to tell if the morning after pill worked is to wait until your next period. It’s normal for your next period to be a few days late after taking the tablet. You may be pregnant if your period is more than 7 days late, if it is unusually light or heavy, or if you have symptoms like abdominal (stomach) pain, breast tenderness, vomiting, or nausea. You should take a pregnancy test as soon as possible. It is critical that you see your doctor if you are pregnant.

You should wait at least 5 days after taking ellaOne before taking another contraceptive pill. If you have sex before restarting your pill, make sure you use another form of contraception, such as condoms.

Only pregnancy is protected by ellaOne; it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You may be at risk for a STI if you have had unprotected sex.

If you think you might have a sexually transmitted infection, come to our STI test clinic for advice, at-home tests, and treatments.

You can request the morning after pill through us if you want to avoid a face-to-face appointment or if you need emergency contraception right away. The morning after pill is also available through the NHS and most high-street pharmacies. Learn more about the morning after pill and where you can get it.

The morning after pill is not available to men. You must answer a series of questions to determine your suitability for the morning after pill, whether through an online doctor or in a pharmacy.

Even when taken on a regular basis, ellaOne should have no effect on fertility.

It’s normal for your next period to be a few days late after taking the tablet. You may be pregnant if your period is more than 7 days late, if it is unusually light or heavy, or if you have symptoms like abdominal (stomach) pain, breast tenderness, vomiting, or nausea. You should take a pregnancy test as soon as possible. It is critical that you see your doctor if you are pregnant.

You should be able to use ellaOne in conjunction with other medications. However, it’s critical that you tell us about any prescription, over-the-counter, or recreational medications you’re taking so that we can safely  get  ellaOne prescribed for you.

There is no evidence that alcohol has an effect on the effectiveness of ellaOne.

The copper coil (also known as an intrauterine device) is a good alternative to the morning after pill (IUD). A trained medical professional can fit this, but it must be done within 5 days of unprotected sex to be effective.

Even if you intend to have a coil fitted, we recommend taking the morning after pill in case this does not happen within 5 days or unprotected sex.