Emergency contraception in Plymouth

Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if the contraception you have used has failed, for example, if a condom has split or you have missed a pill.

There are two types of emergency contraception:

the emergency contraceptive pill Levonelle or ellaOne (the "morning after" pill)
the intrauterine device (IUD or coil)

At a glance: facts about emergency contraception

You need to take the emergency contraceptive pill within 3 days (Levonelle) or 5 days (ellaOne) of unprotected sex for it to be effective; the sooner you take it, the more effective it'll be.
The IUD can be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex, or up to 5 days after the earliest time you could have ovulated, for it to be effective.
The IUD is more effective than the contraceptive pill at preventing pregnancy; less than 1% of women who use the IUD get pregnant.
Taking the emergency contraceptive pills Levonelle or ellaOne can give you a headache or tummy pain and make you feel or be sick.
The emergency contraceptive pill can make your next period earlier, later, or more painful than usual.
If you're sick (vomit) within 2 hours of taking Levonelle or 3 hours of taking ellaOne, go to your GP, pharmacist, or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, as you'll need to take another dose or have an IUD fitted.
If you use the IUD as emergency contraception, it can be left in and used as your regular contraceptive method.
If you use the IUD as a regular method of contraception, it can make your periods longer, heavier, or more painful.
You may feel some discomfort when the IUD is put in, but painkillers can help.
There are no serious side effects from using emergency contraception.
Emergency contraception doesn't cause an abortion.

How the emergency pill works

Levonelle

Levonelle contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic (man-made) version of the natural hormone progesterone produced by the ovaries.

It's thought to stop or delay the release of an egg (ovulation).

Levonelle has to be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of sex to prevent pregnancy. It doesn't interfere with your regular method of contraception.

ellaOne

ellaOne contains ulipristal acetate, which stops progesterone from working normally. This also works by stopping or delaying the release of an egg.

ellaOne has to be taken within 120 hours (5 days) of sex to prevent pregnancy.

If you take Levonelle or EllaOne

Levonelle and ellaOne don't continue to protect you against pregnancy; if you have unprotected sex at any time after taking the emergency pill, you can become pregnant.

They aren't intended to be used as a regular form of contraception. But you can use emergency contraception more than once in a menstrual cycle if you need to.

Who can use the emergency pill?

Most women can use the emergency contraceptive pill. This includes women who can't use hormonal contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch. Girls under 16 years old can also use it.

But you may not be able to take the emergency contraceptive pill if you're allergic to anything in it, have severe asthma, or take any medicines that may interact with it, such as:

the herbal medicine St John's Wort
some medicines used to treat epilepsy, HIV or tuberculosis (TB)
medicine to make your stomach less acidic, such as omeprazole
some less commonly used antibiotics (rifampicin and rifabutin)

ellaOne can't be used if you're already taking one of these medicines, as it may not work. Levonelle may still be used, but the dose may need to be increased.

Tell a GP, nurse, or pharmacist what medicines you're taking, and they can advise you if they're safe to take with the emergency contraceptive pill.

You can also read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for more information.

Breastfeeding

Levonelle is safe to take while breastfeeding. Although small amounts of the hormones in the pill may pass into your breast milk, it's not thought to be harmful to your baby.

The safety of ellaOne during breastfeeding isn't yet known. The manufacturer recommends that you don't breastfeed for one week after taking this pill.

If you're already using regular contraception,

You may need to take the emergency pill if you:

I forgot to take some of your regular contraceptive pills
didn't use your contraceptive patch or vaginal ring correctly
were late having your contraceptive implant or contraceptive injection

If you have taken Levonelle, you should:

take your next contraceptive pill, apply a new patch or insert a new ring within 12 hours of taking the emergency pill
continue taking your regular contraceptive pill as normal

Use additional contraception, such as condoms, for:

7 days if you use the patch, ring, combined pill (except Qlaira), implant or injection
9 days for the combined pill Qlaira
2 days if you use the progestogen-only pill

If you have taken ellaOne:

wait at least 5 days before taking your next contraceptive pill, applying a new patch or inserting a new ring

Use additional contraception, such as condoms, until you restart your contraception, and for an additional:

7 days if you use the patch, ring, combined pill (except Qlaira), implant or injection
9 days for the combined pill Qlaira
2 days if you use the progestogen-only pill

A GP or nurse can advise further on when you can start taking regular contraception and how long you should use additional contraception.

Side effects of using the emergency pill

There are no serious or long-term side effects from taking the emergency contraceptive pill.

But it can cause:

headaches
tummy pain
changes to your next period—it can be earlier, later or more painful than usual
feeling or being sick, get medical attention if you're sick within 2 hours of taking Levonelle or 3 hours of taking ellaOne, as you'll need to take another dose or have an IUD fitted

See a GP or nurse if your symptoms don't go away after a few days or if:

you think you might be pregnant
your next period is more than 7 days late
your period is shorter or lighter than usual
you have sudden pain in your lower tummy; in rare cases, a fertilised egg may have implanted outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy)

Can I get the emergency contraceptive pill in advance?

You can get the emergency contraceptive pill in advance of having unprotected sex if:

you're worried about your contraceptive method failing
you're going on holiday
you can't get emergency contraception easily

See a GP or nurse for further advice on getting advanced emergency contraception. You can also talk to them about your options for regular methods of contraception.

How the IUD works as emergency contraception

The intrauterine device (IUD) is a small, T-shaped plastic and copper device that's put into your womb (uterus) by a doctor or nurse.

It releases copper to stop the egg from implanting in your womb or being fertilised.

The IUD can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sex, or up to 5 days after the earliest time you could have ovulated (released an egg), to prevent pregnancy.

You can also choose to have the IUD left in as an ongoing method of contraception.

How effective is the IUD at preventing pregnancy?

The emergency IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception; less than 1% of women who use the IUD get pregnant.

It's more effective than the emergency pill at preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex.

Who can use the IUD?

Most women can use an IUD, including those who are HIV-positive. A GP or nurse will ask about your medical history to check if an IUD is suitable for you.

The IUD might not be suitable if you have:

an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI) or a pelvic infection
problems with your womb or cervix
unexplained bleeding between periods or after sex

The emergency IUD won't react with any other medicines you're taking.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

The IUD shouldn't be inserted if there's a risk that you may already be pregnant.

It's safe to use when you're breastfeeding, and it won't affect your milk supply.

Side effects of the IUD

Complications after having an IUD fitted are rare but can include:

pain
infection
damage to the womb
the IUD coming out of your womb
heavier, longer or more painful periods if you continue to use it as a regular method of contraception

Where can I get emergency contraception?

Getting it for free

You can get emergency contraception for free, even if you're under 16, from these places, but they may not all fit the IUD:

contraception clinics
sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
some GP surgeries
some young people's clinics
most NHS walk-in centres and minor injuries units
most pharmacies
some accident and emergency (A&E) departments (phone first to check)

Find your nearest pharmacy

Buying it

If you're aged 16 or over, you can buy the emergency contraceptive pill from most pharmacies, in person or online, and from some organisations, such as the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS). The cost varies, but it will be around £25 to £35.

Contraception for the future

If you're not using a regular method of contraception, you might consider doing so to protect yourself from an unintended pregnancy.

There are several methods of contraception that protect you for a long period of time, so you don't have to think about them once they're in place or remember to use or take them every day or every time you have sex.

These methods include the following:

See a GP, nurse, or visit your nearest sexual health clinic to discuss the options available.

If you're under 16 years old,

Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of 16.

If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse, or pharmacist won't tell your parents (or carer) as long as they believe you fully understand the information you're given and the decisions you're making.

Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under 16. They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they won't make you.

The only time a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first.