ellaOne (30mg ulipristal acetate) and Levonelle (levonorgestrel 1.5mg) are single dose morning after pills.
- ellaOne is only effective if taken within 5 days from the event (unprotected intercourse.
- Levonelle must be taken within 72 hours (3days) to prevent pregnancy.
Both pills should not be taken together.
Complete a short consultation before selecting your medication. All our consultations are approved by a UK Medical Doctor.
Summary of available medications
ellaOne 30mg1 to 2 tablets (1 or 2 single dose treatments)From £23.95
| Medication | Quantity | Price |
|---|
All medications
ellaOne
| Medication | Quantity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ellaOne 30mg | 1 tablet (1 single dose treatment) | £23.95 |
| ellaOne 30mg | 2 tablets (2 single dose treatments) | £43.95 |
All prices exclude prescription fee
About EllaOne
ellaOne is an emergency contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy if another method of contraception has failed or after having unprotected sex. This is also referred to as a ‘morning after pill’. ellaOne alters the activity of the hormone progesterone, which is required for ovulation, and postpones the release of an egg. This means that there is no egg for the sperm to fertilise and pregnancy is prevented if you have not already ovulated before taking the pill. It is therefore important to take ellaOne as quickly as possible increase the effectiveness of this medication.How effective is ellaOne in preventing pregnancy?
No method of contraception is 100% effective. ellaOne can prevent up to 98% of pregnancies although effectiveness is dependent on how soon it is taken after unprotected sex.How does the morning after pill work?
Levonelle and ellaOne, both work by preventing or delaying ovulation (release of an egg). Both pills are Prescription Only Medicine (POM) and available from Dr Felix.How long after unprotected sex / contraception failure is ellaOne effective?
ellaOne is most effective when taken within the first 24 hours after unprotected sex. It should therefore be taken as soon as possible, although it can be used within 5 days after contraception failure or having unprotected sex.Do you have to be a certain age to take ellaOne?
ellaOne can be used by women of childbearing age, including adolescents.What if I vomit after taking ellaOne?
If you are sick within 3 hours of taking an ellaOne tablet you should take another as soon as possible.What is the difference between ellaOne and Levonelle?
Levonelle is the most commonly used morning after pill. It can be taken up to three days (72 hours) after having unprotected sex. ellaOne is a newer type of emergency contraceptive pill that can be taken up to five days (120 hours) after having unprotected sex.Which pill is more effective?
ellaOne is slightly more effective than Levonelle. Studies show, if they are taken in the first 72 hours (3 days) after intercourse, pregnancy rates are close to 2 in 100 with Levonelle and 1.5 in 100 with ellaOne. EllaOne remains effective up to 120 hours (5 days) after intercourse.Cautions
- ellaOne should not be used as a regular method of contraception.
- Emergency contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
- Consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking ellaOne if you suffer from severe asthma or liver disease.
- If you are breastfeeding, do not breastfeed your baby for one week after taking ellaOne.
- You should seek medical advice before taking ellaOne if there is a possibility you may already be pregnant.
- ellaOne can make regular hormonal contraceptives less effective; therefore use of a hormonal contraceptive can be continued after taking ellaOne although you should use a condom as an additional precaution until your next period.
- You should not use ellaOne together with another emergency contraceptive pill containing levonorgestrel as this can make ellaOne less effective.
ellaOne contains the active ingredient ulipristal acetate, a selective progesterone receptor modulator, which prevents ovulation to protect against pregnancy.
| Levonelle 1500 – the traditional morning after pill | EllaOne 30mg – a newer morning after pill | |
| How soon should I take the pill? | Only effective up to three days (72 hours) after unprotected sex but taken the sooner the better. | Effective up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. |
| Will it stop me getting pregnant? | In most cases – yes. 10 out of 1,000 women will still get pregnant. The sooner you take it, the more likely it is to work. | In most cases – yes. Five out of 1,000 women will still get pregnant. |
| I’m busy today; does it matter if I take it tomorrow? | Yes. It is most effective taken as soon as possible. With each passing day, it becomes less effective. | Current evidence shows it stays very effective for five days. As it is a newer medicine, it is still being monitored. |
| I forgot some of my normal contraceptive pills this month; can I take them as normal? | Yes but you will need additional contraception for up to nine days, depending on the pill you take. Read the information leaflet that comes with your contraceptive pill to get the exact advice, as this will vary depending on which pill you take and when in your cycle you missed pills. Condoms will be needed for seven days for the normal combined pill, the patch and the ring, nine days for Qlaira and two days for the mini, or progesterone only pill. | Yes. But you will need additional contraception for up to 16 days, depending on the pill you take. Read the information leaflet that comes with your contraceptive pill to get the exact advice, as this will vary depending on which pill you take and when in your cycle you missed pills. Condoms will be needed for fourteen days for the normal combined pill, the patch and the ring. Sixteen days for Qlaira and nine days for the mini or progesterone only pill. |
| What are the side-effects? | Most commonly irregular bleeding, headache, nausea, dizziness and abdominal pain. | |
| Can I take it more than once in one menstrual cycle? | Yes, as long as you haven’t taken EllaOne in the same cycle. | No, EllaOne can only be taken once in one cycle and not in the same cycle as Levonelle. |
| How quickly will I get my medicine? | We offer some standard and next day delivery options but for morning after pill, please contact our pharmacist straight after placing your order to discuss your requirements; we are able to prioritise emergency situations at the doctor’s discretions to suit your needs. If our doctors have any follow-up questions we will not be able to dispatch your medicines until you respond via your online Patient Record or make contact via telephone. |
One ellaOne tablet should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex at any time of the day with or without food. It cannot be taken any later than 5 days after unprotected sex or contraception failure.
EllaOne Side Effects
Common side effects of taking ellaOne include:
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Painful periods
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Mood swings
- Muscle pain
Uncommon side effects of taking ellaOne include:
- Diarrhoea
- Heartburn
- Wind
- Hot flushes
- Acne
- Change in appetite
- Influenza
Rare side effects of taking ellaOne include:
- Genital pain
- Pain during sex
- Loss of concentration
- Vertigo
- Disturbance in taste
- Hives
Please read the following information carefully before starting treatment – EllaOne
