Morning After Pill

You should swallow the morning after pill whole, with a glass of water if necessary, as soon as possible after you have had unprotected sex.

You can take:

• ellaOne up to 5 days after you have had unprotected sex
• levonorgestrel, Levonelle, or LoviOne up to 72 hours or 3 days after unprotected sex

Both types of morning after pill will only work if you take them before ovulation occurs. This is why the earlier you take it, the more effective it will be.

What if I vomit after taking the morning after pill?

If you are sick (vomit) within 3 hours of taking the morning after pill, you’ll need to take another tablet as soon as possible. That’s because the one you previously took may not have been absorbed and will not be effective.

How many times can you take the morning after pill?

There’s no limit to the number of times you can take the morning after pill, but you should not use it as a regular method of contraception.

You can take the morning after pill more than once in a menstrual cycle, but if you need to take it twice within a week, you should take the same type of pill each time.

Taking it multiple times in a cycle can cause changes to your period and menstrual cycle.

Can I take my contraceptive pill at the same time as the morning after pill?

Yes, if you are currently taking the hormonal contraceptive pill, you should continue taking it as normal.

If you use ellaOne, your contraceptive pill may not be as effective until after your next bleed. So, you will need to use a condom each time you have sex until your next period.

Should I take a pregnancy test?

You should take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after taking the morning after pill to find out if it has worked or if you haven’t had a period within that time. It is normal to get your period a little earlier or later than usual after using emergency contraception.

The side effects of the morning after pill can differ slightly between types.

Common side effects of ellaOne include:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• stomach pain
• being sick (vomiting)
• painful periods
• pelvic pain
• breast tenderness
• headache
• dizziness
• mood swings
• muscle pain
• back pain
• tiredness

Common side effects of levonorgestrel, LoviOne, and Levonelle include:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• irregular bleeding until your next period
• lower tummy pain
• tiredness
• headache
• being sick (vomiting)
• earlier or later period than usual
• tender breasts
• diarrhoea
• dizziness

How to manage side effects

Many of the common morning after pill side effects are mild and only last a short time. You can manage them at home by:

• getting some rest
• drinking plenty of water and clear fluids to prevent dehydration if you are sick or to help manage headaches
• trying heat therapy, such as heat pads or a hot water bottle if you are experiencing tummy pain or cramps
• taking over-the-counter painkillers to manage pain if necessary

If you are sick within 3 hours of taking the morning after pill, you’ll need to take another one as soon as possible.

Yes, the morning after pill is available for free in the UK from several places, including:

• sexual health clinics
• GP surgeries
• some pharmacies offering NHS emergency contraception services
• NHS walk-in centres
• A&E

You can use the NHS search tool to find out where you can get emergency contraception in your area, by following the links below:

• NHS England
• NHS 24 Scotland
• NHS 111 Wales
• HSCNI Online for services in Northern Ireland

Yes, you can buy the morning after pill over the counter at many UK pharmacies without a prescription. It is also available to buy online from reputable online services like Superdrug Online Doctor where you can collect it from your local Superdrug Pharmacy in as little as 2 hours.

If you choose to buy the morning after pill over the counter, you will need to speak to a pharmacist, so they can assess if it is safe and suitable for you to take.

The consultation won’t take long and you will be taken to a private consultation room, so no one else can hear your conversation. If the pharmacist thinks the morning after pill is right for you, you will be able to purchase it straight away.

An intrauterine device (IUD) can be used as alternative emergency contraception. It is 99.9% effective in preventing pregnancy. An IUD is a small T-shaped copper and plastic device that is placed in the womb (uterus) by a specially trained nurse or doctor.

As the copper releases, it prevents the egg from becoming fertilised or becoming implanted even when it meets sperm. It can be used as a long term method of contraception and as emergency contraception within five days of unprotected sex. However, like the Morning After Pill, the quicker it is used, the better it is at preventing pregnancy.

An IUD can last as long as 5 to 10 years. It can have some side effects in the early months, including:

• mild to moderate pain during insertion
• spotting
• irregular bleeding
• heavier bleeding
• painful periods

When properly inserted, an IUD carries little risk of infection. There is also a small risk of your body moving or pushing out the device. Your doctor or nurse will advise you on how to check on its placement.

The effects of a copper IUD are easily undone when it is taken out by a specially trained nurse or doctor. Once removed, you can get pregnant straight away. While a safe form of contraception, IUDs do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To protect against STIs you will need to use condoms.

Can you get pregnant after taking the morning after pill?

Yes, you can still get pregnant after taking the morning after pill. They are most effective when they are taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex.

Can I take the morning after pill if I’m breastfeeding?

Yes, but there are some precautions you will need to take because the active ingredient can pass into your breast milk.

If you use ellaOne while you are breastfeeding, you will need to stop breastfeeding for 1 week after taking it. During this time it is recommended that you use a breast pump to maintain milk production, but throw the milk away, do not feed it to your baby.

If you take levonorgestrel while breastfeeding, you should take it immediately after a feed and then avoid nursing for at least 8 hours. You’ll need to drain your milk with a breast pump for 8 hours after taking the tablet to reduce the amount of ingredients that will be in your breast milk when you next feed your baby.

Do I need to take the morning after pill if I have just had a baby?

Emergency contraception is not needed if you have sex within 3 weeks of giving birth. If you have unprotected sex after the first 21 days, you could get pregnant, so you may need to consider taking the morning after pill or discuss more regular contraceptive methods unless you want to get pregnant again.

Can the morning after pill delay your period?

Yes, the morning after pill can delay your period, usually only by a few days, or it can make it come earlier than usual. If you have not had your period within 3 weeks of taking the morning after pill, you could be pregnant and should take a pregnancy test.

Does the morning after pill work during ovulation?

No, the morning after pill will not work if you have already started ovulating. That’s because it works by delaying ovulation.

Can you drink alcohol after taking the morning after pill?

Yes, you can drink alcohol after taking the morning after pill and alcohol is not known to make it less effective. However, you should drink alcohol in moderation because if you are sick within 3 hours of taking the morning after pill, it will be less effective and you’ll need to take another tablet.

Can I take the morning after pill if I’ve just had an abortion or miscarriage?

You can use emergency contraception from 5 days after an abortion or treatment for a miscarriage as long as you do not experience any complications.

Should I get tested for STIs?

Yes, if you have had unprotected sex it is advisable to get an STI test because the morning after pill cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections. Depending on the type of STI you are testing for, you’ll usually need to wait until 2 weeks after the event to test yourself.

Does the morning after pill affect fertility?

No, the morning after pill will not affect your future fertility.

How old do you need to be to buy the morning after pill?

You will need to be at least 16 years old to buy the morning after pill online. However, contraception, including the morning after pill, is available for free on the NHS, even for young people under 16.