Morning after pill

There are lots of myths about the morning after pill but it is not bad for you. You may experience some symptoms such as changes to your period, headaches, nausea or tummy ache - however these are not long term side effects and your menstrual cycle will go back to normal after your first period. Take a look at our complete guide to the morning after pill where we answer every question you could have about emergency contraception!

There is no evidence that weight is affected by the morning after pill. However weight gain, or loss, could be impacted by a number of factors that may be related to hormones and the menstrual cycle, such as water retention. Take a look our guide to contraception and weight to find out more.

You can use the Levonorgestrel morning after pill while you are breastfeeding with no issues. However, don't breastfeed your baby for 1 week after using ellaOne as we are unsure about the safety of breastfeeding with this type of morning after pill. To avoid potential mastitis (an infection of the breast) if you do suddenly stop breastfeeding, you are advised to express your milk to keep comfortable for one week. After 1 week, it is considered safe to breastfeed again after ellaOne has passed out of your body and breastmilk. Under certain circumstances, breastfeeding can actually be used as a method of contraception , but you will need to follow the guidelines for it to be effective.

You can buy the morning after pill over the counter from a pharmacy, as well as buying it online. You can order the morning after pill directly from The Lowdown using next day delivery, or even just purchase one for future use! The morning after pill is available for free on the NHS from your GP (if you can get an appointment within the time frame you need to take it) or your local sexual health clinic.

The morning after pill is not used as a regular form of contraception and should only be taken after unprotected sex or if your usual contraceptive method has failed, for example, if a condom breaks or you forget to take your pill. You need to take an emergency contraceptive pill within 3 days (or 5 days if taking ellaOne ) of unprotected sex - the sooner you take it, the more effective it will be. If you need to, you can take it more than once in a menstrual cycle.