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If you’ve had unprotected sex you may be able to prevent pregnancy by using emergency contraception within the first five days. There are two types of emergency contraception: the emergency contraceptive pill (the morning after pill) and the intrauterine device (IUD).
The emergency contraceptive pill and the IUD both work within five days of unprotected sex to stop pregnancy from occurring.
If taken within 5 days it can prevent pregnancy The IUD can be kept in and become a regular method of contraception There may be some side effects of taking the emergency contraceptive pill e.g. abdominal pains and headaches The emergency contraceptive pill may be less effective if you vomit within three hours of taking it
The IUD must be fitted by a specially trained doctor or nurse. You can get the IUD and the emergency contraceptive pill from a range of services, including Brook, sexual health clinics and your GP.
If you’re 16 or over, you can also buy the Levonorgestrel pill from most pharmacies for around £25, and the ellaOne pill for around £35. Read more
Information
Emergency contraception doesn’t cause an abortion. The pills used during an abortion end a pregnancy that’s already happened. The emergency contraceptive pill prevents a pregnancy from happening.
The IUD must be fitted by a specially trained doctor or nurse. You can get the IUD and the emergency contraceptive pill from a range of services, including Brook, sexual health clinics and your GP. Find your nearest using our find a service tool.
If you’re 16 or over, you can also buy the Levonorgestrel pill from most pharmacies for around £25, and the ellaOne pill for around £35.
When you go to get emergency contraception you will be asked some questions including:
This is to check what method of emergency contraception is the most suitable.
The IUD is the most effect method of emergency contraception.
The intrauterine device (IUD) is a small plastic and copper device that is fitted in your uterus (womb) by a specially trained doctor or nurse. It is over 99% effective, but it needs to be fitted within five days (120 hours) of unprotected sex or up to five days after the earliest time you could have released an egg (ovulated).
It takes about 15-20 minutes to fit the IUD and can be uncomfortable however you can have a local anaesthetic to help with this. If you can’t have the IUD fitted straight away and an appointment is made for this to happen at a different time, you may have to take the emergency contraceptive pill before you have the IUD fitted.
After having the IUD fitted you can continue to use this is as your usual method of contraception. If you want to have the IUD removed this will need to be done by a specially trained doctor or nurse after your next period.
This type of emergency contraceptive contains a progestogen hormone called Levonorgestrel.
It is most effective when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, but it can be used up to 96 hours (4 days) after. So it’s important that you get advice on emergency contraception as soon as possible after having unprotected sex. Some services may only offer LNG up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.
The emergency contraceptive pill Levonorgestrel (LNG) does not protect you from further unprotected sex.
Brands: Different brands include Levonelle, Levonelle one step or Upostelle.
This type of emergency contraceptive contains Ulipristal Acetate, which works by stopping progesterone (a hormone women produce in their ovaries) from working normally and prevents pregnancy by delaying or preventing ovulation. If taken within five days (120 hours) of having unprotected sex, it is almost 98% effective at preventing pregnancy.
The emergency contraceptive pill Ulipristal Acetate (UPA) ellaOne does not protect you from further unprotected sex.
Brand: ellaOne is the only brand of this type of emergency contraceptive pill available in the United Kingdom.
If your next period comes at about the time you would normally expect it and is not lighter than normal, it is unlikely that you’re pregnant.
If your period is lighter or shorter or you miss your next period or withdrawal bleed (if your usual method of contraception is a combined contraceptive method) then you should see a nurse or doctor. They will recommend doing a pregnancy test but to ensure an accurate result the test should be no earlier than three weeks since you had of unprotected sex.
Sometimes the doctor or nurse can start a method of contraception for you at the same time as giving you emergency contraception. They will advise when you should start using this method and when it will begin working.
If you have been given the IUD:
If you have been given the emergency contraceptive pill LNG:
If you have been given the emergency contraceptive pill ellaOne:
The emergency contraceptive pill is very effective and it is more effective the sooner you take it after unprotected sex. Some things which can make it less effective are:
There are no serious short or long-term side-effects from using the IUD or the emergency contraceptive pill. Some women may experience some, or none, of these possible side effects.
IUD:
Emergency contraceptive pill:
The IUD will protect you from pregnancy between 5 and 10 years. You can get the IUD replaced when it expires.
There is no limit to the number of times you can take the emergency contraceptive pill during a lifetime. You can take the same type of emergency contraception pill more than once in any menstrual cycle if you need to. However, it may not be possible to take a different type of pill in the same cycle – it depends on which one has already been taken.
If you have had unprotected sex more than five days ago, you will not be able to use emergency contraception but it’s a good idea to take a pregnancy test either:
You can get a free pregnancy test a Brook service (if you are under 25), young person’s service, contraception and sexual health clinic and some GPs.
You will not need to use emergency contraception for the first 21 days after giving birth.
You can take the emergency contraceptive pill if you’ve had unprotected sex after an abortion or miscarriage. Speak to your doctor or nurse about using the IUD.
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