Emergency contraceptive pills

Emergency contraceptive pills can help you to avoid pregnancy after having sex. While most forms of contraception - such as condoms - are used before sex, emergency contraceptive pills come into play afterwards. This means they can be useful if you have forgotten to use contraception, or if you have used contraception, but are worried that it may not have worked.

Emergency contraceptive pills: a history

Emergency contraceptives pills were first invented in the 1950s when scientists had achieved a better understanding of the functioning of the menstrual cycle, and how hormones controlled it. Prior to this, the rhythm method - where sex is avoided around the time of ovulation, was one of the most widely promoted contraceptive methods.

Emergency hormonal contraception was met with disapproval by some people who mistook it as an abortion method. But under legal and medical definitions, emergency contraception is not synonymous with abortion, since it prevents the fertilised egg from implanting itself in the womb. Most definitions classify the point of life to be the moment when the fertilised egg is imbedded and an embryo starts to grow. Doctors and medical experts have hailed the emergency contraceptive as a revolution in birth control, which has helped to prevent millions of unwanted pregnancies.

ellaOne and Levonelle

Two main emergency contraceptive pills are ellaOne and Levonelle. Both pills contain the hormone progesterone, which is produced naturally by the body during pregnancy. The pills 'trick' the body into thinking that ovulation has already occurred, thus preventing fertilisation from happening.

ellaOne is the latest emergency contraceptive pill. It was introduced in 2009. ellaOne is revolutionary in that it can work when taken for up to 5 days after sex. Another major established contraceptive pill is Levonelle, which works when taken within 48 hours of sex.

How effective are emergency contraception pills?

In clinical trials only 2 in every 100 women became pregnant after taking ellaOne within 5 days of having sex. Levonelle is similarly effective. When taken within 24 hours, Levonelle prevents 95% of pregnancies. It is important to take emergency contraception pills as soon as you can following sex. Levonelle for example is reduced to 58% effectiveness after 3 days of having sex.

Getting hold of emergency contraceptive pills

ellaOne can be purchased after you have been given a prescription by your GP. You can also buy ellaOne online from our online clinic that offers comprehensive medical consultation. Levonelle can be acquired from many health service providers including family planning clinics, sexual health clinics, and NHS walk-in centres and from your GP. Similarly, you can get Levonelle from our website following free medical consultation.