• The levonorgestrel morning after pill contains a synthetic hormone called levonorgestrel. This pill can be taken up to 3 days after unprotected sex
• The ellaOne morning after pill contains a synthetic hormone called ulipristal acetate. It can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex
• ellaOne is more effective at preventing pregnancy
• Which morning after pill is best for you depends on your weight, whether you already use hormonal contraception, or if you use other medications. You can find out more information in our blog, which morning after pill is best for me?
• Both types of morning after pill are available to buy from The Lowdown, as well as an extra dose to have as a spare for future emergencies
• The copper IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception, regardless of BMI, and can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sex

• The morning after pill should only be used if you have had unprotected sex
• Levonorgestrel-based morning after pills like Levonorgestrel, Levonelle or Ezinelle, must be taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex
• The ellaOne morning after pill must taken within 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex
• Always read the information leaflet included in your packaging for detailed instructions and potential side effects. For more information, check out our guide on how the morning after pill works
• The morning after pill is completely safe to take, can be taken multiple times in one menstrual cycle, and will not affect your health or fertility. Check out our blog on how many times can you take the morning after pill for more information

• When used correctly, research shows that the morning after pill is around 97-98% effective at preventing pregnancy
• Research has also shown the ellaOne morning after pill is more effective at preventing pregnancy, with only 1-2% of users becoming pregnant compared to 0.6-2.6% of people who take a levonorgestrel morning after pill
• It’s important to remember that if you vomit within 2 hours of taking the levonorgestrel pill, or within 3 hours of taking the ellaOne pill, the effectiveness will be reduced and you will need to take another dose. Alternatively, you can have an emergency copper coil (IUD) inserted, which is the most effective form of emergency contraception as less than 0.1% of people who have one fitted get pregnant after unprotected sex
• The effectiveness of the morning after pill may be reduced if you have a higher BMI
• For more information on the research into how effective the morning after pill is, check out our blog on ‘which morning after pill is best‘
• Take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after using emergency contraception to make sure it’s worked

The morning after pill is completely safe and does not cause any long term effects on your health or fertility. If you do experience side effects they should be temporary and not severe. Side effects can include…

• Headache
• Stomach ache
• Changes to your menstrual cycle. It could be earlier, later, shorter, longer, heavier or lighter
• Dizziness
• Nausea and/or vomiting – see the FAQ above for more information on vomiting and the morning after pill

If any of these symptoms persist after a few days, or feel severe, speak to a healthcare professional. For more information, check out our blog, ‘is the morning after pill safe.’

The morning after pill could affect your menstrual cycle as it disrupts it by delaying ovulation. Potential changes to the menstrual cycle could include…

• Irregular bleeding or spotting
• Changes to cycle length
• Heaviness of flow
• Delay to your next period, or your period could arrive earlier

Everyone is different, so you may not experience these symptoms while someone else you know has. Check out our blog that looks at the effects the morning after pill can have on the menstrual cycle for more information. 

The Lowdown is here to help you with all things contraception and women’s health. Not only can you buy the morning after pill from us, you can…

• Buy contraception online with next-day delivery. Select either a one-off purchase or subscribe and never worry about running out again!
• Get 1-1 personalised advice over phone or Zoom when you book an appointment with one of our lovely women’s health GPs. You can discuss everything from contraception, to a range of women’s health conditions including PMS, endometriosis, PCOS, menopause – the list goes on!
• Got a burning question about sex or having problems in the bedroom? Our certified sex coach Lucy offers empowering support and advice to get your sex life back on track
• Manage your pelvic health with help from our pelvic health physiotherapist Kathryn. Get expert information, support and practical advice across a range of conditions including incontinence, painful sex and endometriosis