Levonelle may still be used, but the dose may need to be increased.

some less commonly used antibiotics (rifampicin and rifabutin)ĮllaOne can't be used if you're already taking one of these medicines, as it may not work.

medicine to make your stomach less acidic, such as omeprazole.

some medicines used to treat epilepsy, HIV or tuberculosis (TB).

Girls under 16 years old can also use it.īut 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: This includes women who can't use hormonal contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch. Most women can use the emergency contraceptive pill. But you can use emergency contraception more than once in a menstrual cycle if you need to. They aren't intended to be used as a regular form of contraception.

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. This also works by stopping or delaying the release of an egg.ĮllaOne has to be taken within 120 hours (5 days) of sex to prevent pregnancy.

ellaOneĮllaOne contains ulipristal acetate, which stops progesterone working normally. It doesn't interfere with your regular method of contraception. Levonelle has to be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of sex to prevent pregnancy. Taking it's thought to stop or delay the release of an egg (ovulation). Levonelle contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic (man-made) version of the natural hormone progesterone produced by the ovaries. Emergency contraception doesn't cause an abortion.There are no serious side effects of using emergency contraception.You may feel some discomfort when the IUD is put in, but painkillers can help.If you use the IUD as a regular method of contraception, it can make your periods longer, heavier or more painful.If you use the IUD as emergency contraception, it can be left in and used as your regular contraceptive method.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.The emergency contraceptive pill can make your next period earlier, later or more painful than usual.Taking the emergency contraceptive pills Levonelle or ellaOne can give you a headache or tummy pain and make you feel or be sick.The IUD is more effective than the contraceptive pill at preventing pregnancy – less than 1% of women who use the IUD get pregnant.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.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.AJ PHOTO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY At a glance: facts about emergency contraception

If you take birth control 2 hours late