Emergency contraception

It prevents or delays the release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation). It may also affect the lining of the womb so a fertilised egg can’t settle.

The sooner Levonelle is taken after unprotected sex, the more likely it will work. If taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex, Levonelle will prevent up to 95% of pregnancies expected to have occurred if emergency contraception had not been used. If taken between 25 to 48 hours after sex, it will prevent up to 85% of pregnancies and between 49 to 72 hours after sex, it will prevent up to 58% of pregnancies that would have been expected to occur.

ellaOne is believed to be more effective than Levonelle and works as well regardless of when it is taken after unprotected sex (up to 120 hours).

Yes.

• Levonelle is more likely to fail the longer you wait to take it after unprotected sex.
• If you vomit within two hours of taking the pill. Speak to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist if this happens.
• If you’ve had unprotected sex at any other time since your last period or since taking the emergency contraceptive pill.

No. If you've had unprotected sex again, you may need emergency contraception again - seek some advice. Emergency contraception isn't reliable as a regular method of contraception.

Yes, there can be side effects, such as:

• nausea and vomiting
• dizziness or tiredness
• headaches
• breast tenderness.

Most women can, even those who cannot use the combined contraceptive pills or contraceptive patch. Breastfeeding women can use the emergency contraceptive pill.

Certain medicines (both prescribed and complementary) can affect the emergency contraceptive pill and in this case, you should seek advice.

It is safe to take Levonelle whilst breastfeeding. Small amounts of the hormones in Levonelle may pass into your breast milk, but its thought not to be harmful.

BPAS has always encouraged women to keep the emergency contraceptive pill at home, just in case. You can buy emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) in advance from pharmacies and online pharmacies.

• Your next period may arrive at the expected time or be a little early or late; for some women, their next period can be late by a week or more.
• You may get some spotting or heavier bleeding up to the time your period arrives.
• If the emergency contraceptive pill fails to prevent pregnancy, there is no evidence that the fetus will be damaged by the pill.
• Emergency contraception is not intended to be used regularly but should be used as a back-up to other methods of contraception.
• The emergency contraceptive pill poses little risk to women’s health.
• There is no limit to how many times you can use Levonelle. It is recommended that ellaOne is taken only once during a cycle.
• There is no age limit for smokers.

If your next period seems like a normal period, it is unlikely that you are pregnant. However, you should do a pregnancy test if:

• you feel pregnant
• your period has not arrived within 3 weeks of taking the emergency contraceptive pill
• you do not have a bleed at the expected time, if you are taking hormonal contraception (like the pill).

If you do a pregnancy test from 3 weeks after the last time you had unprotected sex, the test should be reliable.

From pharmacies, your GP, family planning clinics, NHS walk-in centres, some hospital accident and emergency departments and BPAS.

BPAS has always encouraged women to keep the emergency contraceptive pill at home, just in case. You can buy emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) online in advance of need from Chemist 4U.

Emergency contraception like EllaOne or Levonelle should not be used more than once per cycle.

You can take emergency contraception if you have missed your regular contraceptive pill. You need to use condoms as well as your usual pills for the next 14 days. Levonelle should be used instead of EllaOne as EllaOne interacts with hormonal contraception so shouldn’t be used if on hormonal contraception.

It works by preventing an egg being fertilised or implanted in the womb.

It is over 99% effective as a method of contraception and as a method of emergency contraception, it can prevent over 99% of pregnancies that would otherwise have been expected to occur. It is the most effective form of emergency contraception and can be left in place to provide ongoing birth control for up to 10 years.

Up to 5 days after unprotected sex or up to 5 days after the date of expected ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary).

Some women experience cramping pains and/or light bleeding for 3 to 4 days following fitting. Painkillers taken before fitting and in the following days can help to ease this.

• Women who are allergic to copper.
• Women with fibroids in the womb where it is not possible to place the IUD.

It is safe to have an IUD fitted whilst you are breastfeeding.

• Sometimes the womb can expel, or push out, the IUD.
• Sometimes an IUD can be pushed through the womb when it is fitted, causing a perforation.
• There is a very small chance of pelvic infection in the first 20 days following IUD fitting.

The Copper IUD is available from family planning clinics and some GPs. BPAS does not provide copper coils as an emergency contraception option.

Emergency contraception doesn’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you are worried about STIs, you can go to a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic, a family planning clinic or your GP for testing.

It is the most effective method of emergency contraception and if the woman and her doctor agree it is the right method for her it can be used as an ongoing method of contraception.