Ask Ella: When to take the morning after pill

Sometimes stress, or just the blur of a busy night can make it hard to remember exactly when you had unprotected sex – and that’s okay. Things happen, but if you want to do what you can to prevent an unplanned pregnancy, here’s some practical advice to help you figure out when to take the morning after pill and what to do next.

Because of its active ingredient, ulipristal acetate, ellaOne® can be taken up to 120 hours (five days) after unprotected sex. It’s important to take the morning after pill as soon as possible, but this window can mean that you have the flexibility to access it slightly later than ‘the morning after’.

What if the five days have passed?

If it’s been more than five days since you had unprotected sex, contact a sexual health clinic or GP straight away. ellaOne® won’t work after this timeframe, but you might be able to get a copper IUD fitted. This is a form of emergency and long term contraception, and can be fitted up to five days after ovulation.

If you’re having trouble working our dates and times of unprotected sex, first of all – don’t panic! These tips might help you work out when things might have happened:

• Check phone/social media history: look at timestamps on photos, messages, calls, or location history to see if anything jogs a memory – maybe you messaged someone just before or after having unprotected sex?

If you’re worried about knowing when you’re ovulating or due to ovulate, don’t worry. It’s really hard to pinpoint this moment for anyone!

• Look at your previous cycle: You can look at the start and end dates of your last period and any tracked cycles before then to determine a potential ovulation point – ovulation can vary from month to month, but this might give you a rough idea, especially if your cycles tend to be quite regular.
• Consult a doctor: It’s always a good idea to speak to a medical professional if you are unsure whether or not you’ve ovulated and can’t work out if there’s still time to take the morning after pill.

There’s no shame in taking emergency contraception, but it shouldn’t be relied upon as a long term contraceptive. If you’re sexually active, we think it’s really important to find a reliable, long-term contraceptive that works for your body and lifestyle. We also recommend regular STI tests which can be accessed from a GP or through a sexual health clinic.

Planning for repeat risk and future contraception

If you had unprotected sex more than once, or again after taking the pill, you can take two doses of ellaOne® in the same cycle. As mentioned, though, emergency contraception is not recommended for long term use so research what might be a good contraceptive option for you – like using condoms, the contraceptive pill, the coil, implant or injection – and speak to a healthcare professional about your options.

Sexual health and emotional support

It’s normal to have a mix of emotions after sex. If you’re feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or just need someone to talk to, your GP or local sexual health services are there to support you.

Take the morning after pill as soon as you can after unprotected sex. ellaOne® can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex, but is more effective the sooner it is taken.

1. Can you take the morning after pill twice in a week?

Yes, but it is not recommended. The morning after pill is not an effective form of regular contraception.

2.  Does alcohol affect the pill’s effectiveness?

Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol is not known to make the pill less effective, but it is not recommended. But if you vomit within three hours of taking it, your body might not absorb the full dose. In that case, contact a doctor or pharmacist right away to see if you need to take another dose.

3. Is the copper IUD still an option after five days?

The copper IUD can be fitted up to five days after unprotected sex or after the earliest expected ovulation.

References:

1. https://www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk/contraception/emergency-contraception