Emergency Contraception

Despite your best efforts, accidents happen and you may find yourself in need of emergency contraception. It might have been because of a tear in a condom, you might have forgotten to take your daily contraceptive, or you could’ve just got carried away in the moment. It’s obviously very important to use contraception; especially a condom if you are sleeping with a new partner, but we all know that in life, not everything always goes to plan.

If you have had unprotected sex or experience contraceptive failure, there are 2 emergency contraception solutions you can consider. Most women will choose to take an emergency contraceptive pill, or the ‘morning after pill’. Emergency contraceptive pills change your hormonal balance to prevent pregnancy. Another method that’s available is an IUD, which is a small plastic or copper device. This is placed into the opening of the womb to prevent sperm from entering.

There are now 2 different pills for emergency contraception. Levonelle One is step is the most well-known and can prevent pregnancy for up to 3 days (72 hours) after unprotected sex. A new emergency contraceptive pill called ellaOne is also now available. This pill is effective for 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected intercourse.

What is an emergency contraceptive pill?

More commonly known as a morning after pill, emergency contraception pills are used to prevent pregnancy if you have had unprotected sex or if you have experienced contraceptive failure. There are now 2 emergency contraceptive pills that you can choose. Levonelle is the most common form of emergency contraception and works for 3 days. ellaOne is a new emergency contraceptive pill which it works for up to 5 days after sex.

How does a contraceptive pill work?

Levonelle and ellaOne both prevent pregnancy by affecting the hormones in your ovaries. Levonelle’s active ingredient is the synthetic hormone levonorgestral, which can interfere with ovulation during the preliminary stages of an egg’s development. ellaOne use a different ingredient, called ulipristal, which works on the hormone receptors and prevents an egg from being released.

Is there an alternative to an emergency contraceptive pill?

An alternate form of emergency contraceptive that’s available is an IUD. An IUD is a small T shaped piece of copper, or more commonly, plastic. It’s inserted into the opening of your womb and will stop sperm from entering. An IUD will be 98% effective against preventing pregnancy if fitted up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse, but unlike pill contraception, can be used on a more permanent basis. IUDs can be used for 3 - 10 years, but the procedure is not common and is unavailable at many clinics and surgeries. A small number of women also find IUDs uncomfortable.

Should I still use regular contraception after taking an emergency contraceptive pill?

Yes. It is only safe to take one emergency contraceptive pill during each menstrual cycle. If you were to have unprotected sex again during this cycle, you would not be able to take another emergency contraceptive pill. After you take ellaOne or Levonelle, we recommend that you use a barrier contraceptive, such as a condom, even if you are already taking birth control, to ensure the best protection until your next menstrual cycle.

Will emergency contraception protect me against sexually transmitted infections?

Emergency contraception prevents against pregnancy only. You should wear a condom to prevent against STIs.