The most important point is to know the exact number of hours you had unprotected sexual intercourse as it will determine whether the EC will work for you, and which brand to take.

Despite being known as the ‘morning-after’ pill, the best time to take it is as soon as possible after unprotected sexual intercourse to improve its effectiveness. With Ella, you can take the pill up to 5 days after.

The pill is generally well tolerated, and is best taken after food. Sometimes, slight nausea may occur, and if you vomit within 3 hours, another tablet should be taken.

Monthly birth control pills generally contain two hormones that prevent ovulation (egg release) and inhibit sperm from entering the uterus, by making the cervical mucous unfriendly to sperm; this should be taken regularly as a form of contraception.

Whereas emergency contraceptive is, as the name suggests, used only when you miss your regular pills and have unprotected sex, or when a condom breaks.

Some women experience nausea, headaches, and breast tenderness. It’s best to refer to the product insert or to consult your medical professional for more information. We have treatments to help with these side effects.

Use of EC does not prevent STIs. Please monitor for symptoms of abnormal/ foul smelling vaginal discharge, vaginal itch and pain on passing urine and seek medical advice should you have these symptoms.

You can drink alcohol after taking the pill, as it does not reduce the effectiveness of emergency contraceptive pills. However, it’s best to drink in moderation. If you vomit after drinking, it may impact the pill’s absorption.

You generally will not need any follow-up care. If your period is more than one week late after taking emergency contraception, you should take a pregnancy test.

Research shows that emergency contraceptive pills are safe for breastfeeding, do not affect milk production, and have no significant impact on your baby.

Emergency contraceptives can generally be used twice in one menstrual cycle (e.g., 4 tablets), but some types are not recommended for repeated use within the same cycle. Always check with your doctor before using emergency contraceptives multiple times.

While there are no known long-term health risks, using emergency contraception (EC) frequently may lead to increased side effects, such as irregular bleeding, and should not replace regular birth control methods.

If you find yourself needing emergency contraception more than once in a cycle, consult your doctor and consider starting a regular oral contraceptive. When taken correctly, oral contraceptives are 99% effective, compared to the lower efficacy of approximately 55% with repeated emergency contraception use in the same cycle.

Emergency contraceptives are most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. The sooner you take them, the higher the chance of preventing pregnancy. While some pills can work up to 5 days after sex, their effectiveness decreases over time, so early use is recommended.

Your menstrual cycle will typically restart within one week of the anticipated start date. Irregular bleeding and spotting can also occur and continue up to 1 month after treatment. However, this should resolve without treatment.

You have to be above 18 years old to speak to a medical professional and obtain Emergency Contraception.

Emergency contraceptives work by preventing or delaying ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). If you do not release an egg during ovulation, you cannot get pregnant. Emergency contraception is not an abortion pill and will not work if you are already pregnant

Emergency contraceptives are about 58-95% effective at preventing pregnancy. This large range is because of the delay between the time between last sexual intercourse and the time the pill is taken. The longer the delay, the less effective EC is.