• Levonorgestrel morning after pills contain the synthetic hormone levonorgestrel. These pills can be taken up to 3 days after unprotected sex
• The ellaOne morning after pill contains the synthetic hormone ulipristal acetate, and can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex
• Studies have shown that ellaOne is more effective at preventing pregnancy
• Which morning after pill is best for you will depend on factors such as your weight, if you already use hormonal contraception, or if you take other medication. You can find out more information in our blog: which morning after pill is best for me?
• You can buy both types of morning after pill from The Lowdown, as well as an extra dose for future emergencies
• Ultimately, a copper IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception, regardless of weight or BMI, and can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sex

• You only need to use the morning after pill if you’ve had unprotected sex
• If you are taking a levonorgestrel-based morning after pill like Levonorgestrel, Levonelle or Ezinelle; it must be taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex
• If you are taking the ellaOne morning after pill, you must take it within 120 hours (5 days) after having unprotected sex
• Always read the patient information leaflet included in the packaging for instructions and information of potential side effects. For more information, check out our guide on how the morning after pill works
• You can take the morning after pill as often as you need to with no detrimental health effects or effect on fertility. You can also take it multiple times in one menstrual cycle if needed. Check out our blog on how many times can you take the morning after pill for more information

• When used correctly, studies suggest the morning after pill is around 97-98% effective at preventing pregnancy
• Research has shown the ellaOne morning after pill to be 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
• If you vomit within 2 hours of taking the levonorgestrel pill, or within 3 hours of taking the ellaOne pill, the effectiveness of your emergency contraception will be reduced and you will need to take another dose. Alternatively, you can have an emergency copper coil (IUD) fitted, 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 also be reduced if you have a higher BMI
• For more information on these studies, check out our blog on ‘which morning after pill is best‘
• We always recommend taking a pregnancy test 3 weeks after using emergency contraception to make sure it’s worked.

The morning after pill is completely safe to use. You may not experience side effects after using the morning after pill, but if you do 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 on effectiveness above for more information on what to do if you vomit after taking the morning after pill

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

The morning after pill could potentially affect your menstrual cycle in numerous ways, as it disrupts your cycle by delaying ovulation. Potential changes to your 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 there’s no one answer. 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 a one-stop-shop for all things contraception and women’s health. Not only can you buy the morning after pill from us, you can also…

• Buy contraception online with next-day delivery either as a one-off purchase or subscribe and never worry about running out again!
• Get 1-1 personalised advice when you book an appointment with one of our lovely women’s health GPs. They can talk about 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? Speak to our certified sex coach Lucy who 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. She offers information, support and practical advice and on managing a range of conditions including incontinence, painful sex and endometriosis