Emergency Contraception

The emergency contraceptive pill (sometimes called the ‘morning after pill’) come in two types: Levonelle and ellaOne.

• Levonelle: this releases the female hormone progestogen into the body to prevent eggs from getting ready to grow in the womb (the beginning stage of pregnancy). You must take Levonelle no later than 3 days after having unprotected sex for it to be effective, although it is recommended for you to take it as soon as possible.
• ellaOne: this contains a chemical called ulipristal acetate, which stops the body’s natural production of female hormones from working normally, delaying or preventing the body from releasing any eggs for a brief period. You need to take EllaOne no later than 5 days after having unprotected sex for it to be effective, although it is recommended for you to take it as soon as possible. Always remember: Both methods do not continue to protect you against pregnancy after you stop taking them, so you will need to switch to a regular, non-emergency contraceptive once you finish taking the emergency pills prescribed to you.

The emergency IUD (intra-uterine device): this is the same as a regular IUD, and works by releasing copper over time, which prevents pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus and thinning the uterine lining – making it harder for sperm to get to eggs. You can have the IUD fitted up to 5 days after having unprotected sex for it to be effective. The IUD can be left in after you’ve had it fitted for an emergency, and you can leave it in for 5-10 years (depending on the type of IUD you have fitted) to continue being protected against unwanted pregnancies.