Comprehensive Guide to the ellaOne Morning After Pill

ellaOne is an emergency contraceptive pill taken to prevent pregnancy when contraception has failed or you have had sex without using any contraception. It is the most effective morning after pill available; up to 98% effective when taken correctly and works for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. No face-to-face consultations are necessary to request this treatment.

How ellaOne Works

ellaOne contains the active ingredient ulipristal acetate which works to delay ovulation from the ovary (the release of the egg) by binding to the progesterone receptor where progesterone attaches. This helps prevent the sperm from reaching the egg and fertilising it, so you cannot get pregnant. By the time 5 days have passed, any sperm remaining in your body will die. It also decreases the thickness around your uterus to further aid this process.

Usage and Effectiveness

You can take one of these pills as soon as possible or within 5 days (120 hours maximum) after unprotected sex, or if you did not take your contraceptive pill as recommended. Regarding clinical results, trials have found that when taken correctly (within 72 to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse) no pregnancies were observed. However, the sooner you take it, the more effective it is.

To ensure it works correctly, take one tablet with water as soon as possible after having unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. Please note if you vomit within 3 hours after taking ellaOne you should take another tablet as soon as possible, otherwise it will not take effect. You can take the treatment at any time during your menstrual cycle, at any time of day (before, during, or after a meal). That being said, it’s important to know that ellaOne works by delaying ovulation, so it won’t work if you’ve ovulated in the last 24 hours.

Differences Between ellaOne and Levonorgestrel

In the UK, there are two types of morning after pill: Levonorgestrel (branded as Levonelle) and ellaOne. Both these morning after pills work in a similar way and are really effective at preventing pregnancy when they’re taken at the right time. However, there are some key differences:

• ellaOne: Contains ulipristal acetate. It must be taken within five days of unprotected sex and is generally 2.5x more effective than Levonelle when taken within 24 hours. It shouldn’t be taken when breastfeeding.
• Levonorgestrel (Levonelle): Contains a synthetic version of progesterone. It must be taken within 72 hours (three days) of unprotected sex and is safe to take when breastfeeding.

Weight, BMI, and Health Factors

Levonorgestrel is thought to be less effective in women who weigh over 70kg or who have a BMI over 26. The recommendation for women over this weight or BMI may be to take one ellaOne tablet. Additionally, ellaOne can be used by trans people who were assigned female at birth. If you have the potential to become pregnant, have ovaries and a womb, you can use ellaOne or levonorgestrel.

Medication Interactions

Certain medications interact negatively with the morning after pill. This is why it’s important to mention if you’re taking any specific medications such as those for:

• Epilepsy: primidone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, fosphenytoine, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine and barbiturates
• Tuberculosis: rifampicin, rifabutin
• HIV: ritonavir, efavirenz, nevirapine
• Fungal infections: Griseofulvin
• Various health conditions: St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

For women taking these kinds of medications, ellaOne can’t be prescribed, but levonorgestrel may be given – usually in a higher dose than normal.

Requesting and Receiving Treatment

To request ellaOne, all you need to do is complete a quick online health questionnaire for our doctors to review to ensure that the medication is safe and right for you. If it is, one of our doctors will approve your treatment. You can then choose whether you’d like it delivered to your door or available to pick it up at your nearest pharmacy in as little as 2 to 3 hours after doctor’s approval.

It is important to remember that ellaOne does not prevent STIs. If you’ve had unprotected sex or you’re worried you might have an STI (sexually transmitted infection), you could take an STI test with one of our test kits, or speak with your doctor.