The morning after pill has many different names and connotations, some of them being “Plan B” and “Emergency Contraception”. These are pills taken to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, providing it is taken shortly after intercourse. The morning after pill is a prescription-only medication that requires a qualified prescription.

It’s good to highlight that the morning after pill is not used to abort a baby, but instead to prevent a woman from having an unwanted pregnancy. It prevents the woman from releasing an egg, which ultimately stops conception from occurring. Depending on the type of morning after pill used it could be effective for up to 72 hours or 120 hours after having unprotected sex.

The morning after pill is very effective. It stops an egg from being released which in turn prevents conception from occurring. When taking levonorgestrel, this can prevent up to 87% of pregnancies, when taken within 72 hours. This then increases the sooner you take it, with 95% of pregnancies being prevented with women who took levonorgestrel within 24 hours.

There are some occasional instances where the egg might already have been released, and this is why the morning after pill is not 100% effective.

Some side-effects of the morning after pill include nausea or vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, breast tenderness, lower abdominal pain or cramps, headaches and bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual bleeding.

ellaOne is a form of emergency contraception, used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Known as the ‘morning after pill’, this single dose treatment is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy when taken within 24 hours of having unprotected sex. ellaOne is suitable for any woman of childbearing age, including adolescents. It can be taken at any time in the menstrual cycle. This pill is a contraceptive used to prevent a pregnancy from starting, it does not work if you are already pregnant. ellaOne is not to be used for regular contraception and will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections. You can expect to receive your order in unbranded, discreet packaging to protect your privacy.

Levonelle is an emergency contraception medication, also known as 'the morning after pill', that can be taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. This pill works by preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg. It also stops the sperm from fertilising any egg that might of been released already. Levonelle will not work if you are already pregnant.