Emergency contraception refers to contraceptive treatments used to prevent pregnancy after sexual activity. These should be administered within five days but are more effective the sooner they are used after sexual activity. Two methods of emergency contraception exist:
- Levonelle or ellaOne is the emergency contraceptive pill (the “morning after” pill)
- the intrauterine apparatus (IUD or coil)
Where can I get the morning after pill?
You may obtain free morning after pills from:
- contraceptive services
- Some pharmacies (find a pharmacy – ask if they provide free emergency contraception)
- The majority of sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics provide HIV testing.
- the majority of HSE walk-in services and minor injury units
- most doctor’s offices (find a GP)
- certain hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments
- some online GPs
If you are still unable to decide, visit our online store to order your desired contraceptive now.
How to take the morning after pill?
If you are using Plan B One-Step, take one pill as soon as possible and within 72 hours of unprotected sexual activity. If you use Ella, you should take one pill as soon as possible and within 120 hours of unprotected sex.
Potential side effects of ellaOne
It’s natural to worry a little bit about potential side effects when deciding to take any medication. There are a few typical* ellaOne adverse reactions:
(*it’s thought that as many as 1 in 10 persons might be affected)
- Headache
- Abdominal Ache
- discomfort in the breasts
- Mood swings
- Discomfort or throwing up
Why would I need to take a double dose of the morning after pill?
If you weigh above 70 kilos or have a BMI of over 26, you may require a double dosage of morning-after pills. It is believed that having a higher body mass index (BMI) reduces the efficacy of oral emergency contraception.
References
10 Facts about the morning after pil
8 MORNING AFTER PILL MYTHS (+ 1 TRUTH)
Morning after pill – Mayo Clinic
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