Levonelle

Levonelle

Levonelle is a morning after pill (emergency contraception) that you take within 72 hours of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. It's up to 98% effective when taken at the right time. Our doctors provide Levonelle quickly and discreetly.

In stock
from £26.49

Product details

Levonelle is an emergency contraceptive pill, also called the morning after pill, which is taken to prevent pregnancy. It needs to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex in order to be effective, but the sooner you take Levonelle after sex, the better it works.

Dr Simran Deo Medical Editor

Medically reviewed by

Dr Simran Deo

Last reviewed: 11 Jun 2020

Levonelle prices

Pack Size Price
1 tablet(s) - 1500 mcg - immediate use £26.49
2 tablet(s) - 3000 mcg - immediate use £35.00
1 tablet(s) - 1500 mcg - future use £26.49
2 tablet(s) - 1500 mcg - future use £35.00
2 tablet(s) - 3000 mcg - future use £35.00

How it Works

Order Levonelle Online

How effective is Levonelle?

Levonelle can be taken up to 72 hours after having unprotected sex or if your existing contraceptive has failed. The sooner you take it, the more effective it will be. Levonelle is:

  • 95% effective if taken within 1 day or 24 hours of unprotected sex
  • 85% effective if taken within 2 days or 25 to 48 hours
  • 58% effective if taken within 3 days or 49 to 72 hours

Levonelle will not work if you have unprotected sex after you have taken it.

Is Levonelle better than ellaOne?

Although they are both emergency contraceptive pills, there are differences between Levonelle and ellaOne. ellaOne is effective for a longer time window than Levonelle because it can be taken up to 5 days after having unprotected sex.

ellaOne is approximately 98% effective, although like all emergency contraception, it should be taken as soon as possible. The maximum effectiveness of Levonelle is 95%, which reduces over it’s 3 day window. In many cases, ellaOne will be the recommended choice of emergency contraception, even if you are within the 72 hour time frame specified for Levonelle.

How does Levonelle work?

Levonelle works by stopping or delaying your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation), and preventing sperm from fertilising an egg which has already been released.

Levonelle contains the active ingredient levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone. This is the same hormone that is found in many contraceptive pills, though in a much larger dosage.

How do I know Levonelle has worked?

It is difficult to know if Levonelle has worked straight away, so you will need to wait until your next period. If your period is over 7 days late then there is a possibility you may be pregnant and that Levonelle has not worked. The only way to be sure is to take a pregnancy test.

How long does Levonelle stay in your system?

Levonelle delays ovulation by up to 3 days after you have taken it. However, it is only effective for one instance of unprotected sex. If you have unprotected sex after you take Levonelle, you may get pregnant.

Can Levonelle delay your period?

Levonelle can cause changes to your next period, including making it come a few days early or late. If your next period after taking Levonelle is more than 7 days late, or is lighter or heavier than normal, or you have any other symptoms of pregnancy, you should get a pregnancy test.

Does Levonelle work if you’ve already ovulated?

No, Levonelle works to prevent or delay ovulation, so it is only effective if you’ve had unprotected sex before you’ve ovulated.

A copper IUD (intra-uterine device) can be used up to 5 days after ovulation as emergency contraception or 5 days after unprotected sex has occurred.

Where can I buy Levonelle?

Levonelle can be bought online, over the counter, and is also available on the NHS.

Can I buy Levonelle online?

Yes, you can buy Levonelle from Superdrug Online Doctor. The process is both convenient and entirely confidential.

Simply:

  1. Fill out our short online medical assessment.
  2. One of our doctors will review your answers and decide whether it is safe and appropriate to prescribe you Levonelle.
  3. If it is, then you can have your treatment posted to an address of your choice or you can arrange to collect it from a local Superdrug store. (Please note due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic Click and Collect locations may be limited).

Can I buy Levonelle over the counter?

Yes, you can get Levonelle over the counter at all Superdrug pharmacies, and most other pharmacies in the UK.

Can a man buy Levonelle?

No, only women can buy Levonelle. That’s because you will need to complete an assessment with a doctor or nurse to make sure it is safe for you to take Levonelle before you can get it.

If you buy Levonelle through Superdrug Online Doctor and choose to collect it from a Superdrug pharmacy, then a man can collect it on your behalf.

How to take Levonelle?

When you take Levonelle, you should:

  • take the tablet as soon as possible, preferably within 12 hours of having unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, but no later than 72 hours after
  • not delay taking the tablet as the more time that passes, the less effective Levonelle will be.
  • not chew the tablet, swallow it whole with water, with or without a meal.

Levonelle can be taken at any time during the menstrual cycle as long as you are not already pregnant or think you might be. If you are already using a regular method of contraception like the contraceptive pill, you should continue to take this at your regular times. If you have unprotected sex after taking Levonelle (during the same menstrual cycle), then you will not be protected from pregnancy.

Can you take Levonelle twice in one cycle?

Yes, you can use Levonelle multiple times during a menstrual cycle if you need to, but it should not be used as a replacement for regular contraception. Using Levonelle multiple times should not impact how effective it is. You cannot use two different types of emergency contraception in the same cycle, such as Levonelle and ellaOne.

If you are using the morning after pill regularly, then you may want to consider taking the contraceptive pill, or a different form of contraception like a coil.

Can I take Levonelle while using the contraceptive pill?

Yes, but only if you need to because of missed pills. Levonelle should not interact with the contraceptive pill, and will not make it less effective. If you have taken Levonelle because you missed your regular contraceptive pill, you should continue taking your next pill as normal.

Can I take Levonelle while breastfeeding?

Yes, Levonelle can be taken while breastfeeding. Traces of the active ingredient contained in the pill can pass into your breastmilk, but this is not thought to be harmful to your baby, and should not impact the quality or quantity of your breastmilk.

How long after taking Levonelle should I do a pregnancy test?

If your period is more than 7 days late or unusually light or unusually heavy, or you have any symptoms of pregnancy, then you should consult your doctor immediately.

Levonelle side effects

Very common.

  • Feeling sick (nausea)
  • Headache
  • Irregular bleeding until your next period
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Tiredness

Common:

  • Being sick (vomiting)
  • Diarrhoea
  • Differences in your next period (earlier, irregular bleeding or spotting)
  • Dizziness
  • Tender or sore breasts

Very rare:

  • Facial swelling
  • Painful period
  • Pelvic pain
  • Pruritus
  • Rash
  • Urticaria

If you have pelvic or lower abdominal pain, you should see your doctor immediately, in case of an ectopic pregnancy.

How long do Levonelle side effects last?

There are no long term or serious side effects of taking the morning after pill and most side effects will go away within a few days of taking the tablet. You should consult your doctor if you have side effects that do not go away within a few days.

If you are sick (vomit) within 3 hours of taking the Levonelle tablet, you should take another tablet immediately.

Does Levonelle affect your period?

After taking Levonelle, your period is usually normal and should start on the usual day. However, some women may find that their period comes a few days earlier or later than usual.

If you have abnormal bleeding, for example unusually heavy or your period is more than 5 days late, you should check to see if you are pregnant using a pregnancy test.

Will Levonelle affect my future fertility?

There is no evidence to suggest that taking Levonelle will affect future fertility, even if it is used repeatedly. It is very safe and is the most widely used emergency contraceptive pill. The active hormone in Levonelle leaves the body within a few days.

Can I drink alcohol while taking Levonelle?

Yes, alcohol will not affect how Levonelle works or how effective it is.

Can Levonelle cause mood swings?

Mood swings are not listed as a side effect of taking Levonelle, but they are a side effect of ellaOne.

Who should not take Levonelle?

You should not take Levonelle if you are pregnant or think you may already be pregnant. Levonelle will not work if you are already pregnant, and it cannot terminate a pregnancy. You should also not take Levonelle if you are allergic to levonorgestrel or any of the other ingredients it contains. These include:

  • potato starch
  • maize starch
  • colloidal silica anhydrous
  • magnesium stearate
  • talc
  • lactose monohydrate
You should not use Levonelle if you have: 
  • severe liver problems
  • a history of ectopic pregnancy (where a baby develops outside the womb)
  • a history of inflammation of the Fallopian tubes called salpingitis
If you have a disease of your small bowel which inhibits absorption, like Crohn’s disease, then Levonelle may not be effective.

Levonelle reviews

Reviewers on The Lowdown have rated Levonorgestrel as 3 out of 5 stars. 84% stated that it caused nausea or vomiting and 83% claimed that it affected their mood somewhat negatively. Half of the reviewers said they had irregular periods after taking Levonorgestrel while 33% had no changes.

Sources

Emergency Contraception (2020) NHS [Accessed 10th May 2021]

Emergency Contraception (2018) Terrence Higgins Trust [Accessed 10th May 2021]

Emergency IUD Contraception (2015) Obstet Gynecol Int. [Accessed 10th May 2021]

Fertility Questions (2014) BPAS [Accessed 10th May 2021]

Levonelle 1500 microgram tablet patient information leaflet (2020) Bayer plc [Accessed 10th May 2021]

Patient Reviews