Emergency contraception is the umbrella term used for treatments used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. The term unprotected sex means sex that has happened when you’ve not used contraception or your contraception has failed, for example, a condom might have broken, or you’ve forgotten your pill.

There are two types of emergency contraceptive pill (ECP), both of which our doctors can prescribe:

• Levonorgestrel (sometimes known as the three-day pill, or under its branded names Norlevo or Prevenelle)
• ellaOne (sometimes known as the five-day pill)

There is also an emergency contraceptive coil (intrauterine copper device or IUCD), which you can access through your local sexual health services.

Both types of ECP – ellaOne and Levonorgestrel – work in the same way. They work by preventing or delaying ovulation (release of an egg). This means that an egg can’t meet with a sperm to be fertilised.  

Depending on which ECP you take, they have different levels of effectiveness.

• Levonorgestrel is 99% effective when taken within 12 hours of unprotected sex, it’s then less effective on days two and three
• ellaOne is 99.5% effective, but the sooner you take it the more effective it is.

The two types of morning after pill have different windows in which you can take them:

• Levonorgestrel must be taken within three days (72 hours) of unprotected sex
• ellaOne must be taken within five days (120 hours) of unprotected sex

If you think there’s a chance you might have unprotected sex and you don’t want to run the risk of getting pregnant, you can request the morning after pill for future use. If you’re doing this and using our service, simply let us know when you’re answering the questions in the online consultation.

While it can be useful to have the morning after pill to hand, straight after unprotected sex, you shouldn’t use the morning after pill as a form of routine contraception.

If our doctors prescribe you Levonorgestrel, you might be prescribed two pills instead of one. Most women will be prescribed the standard dose of 1.5 milligrams, but if you weigh over 70kg, have a BMI of over 26, or taking certain medications, you might be prescribed 3 milligrams.

If you’re sick within three hours of taking the morning after pill, you also might be asked to take another dose. If you are sick, please send us a message through your account, speak to your pharmacist or a GP.

Like all treatments, some people might experience side effects when taking the ECP. Some women might feel sick, dizzy or tired, others might get headaches, sore breasts, period-type pain or diarrhoea. Usually, these kinds of symptoms will pass in a day or two.

Some women might also experience changes to their period, you might get some bleeding before your period is due, or it might come earlier or late. If your period is more than a week late, it’s best to take a pregnancy test, as there might be a chance the ECP hasn’t worked.

No, morning after pills only protect you after unprotected sex. But the emergency contraceptive coil would protect you from getting pregnant for up to 10 years.

If you’re looking for advice about routine contraception, please visit our contraception service.

No, no form of emergency contraception protects you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). So if you have had unprotected sex, we would recommend taking an STI test. Our doctors recommend getting tested regularly, either once a year or when you change sexual partners.

You can request the morning after pill online at Lloyds Online Doctor Ireland. A visit to a doctor is not needed, but you will need to complete a short online questionnaire. If the morning after pill is suitable for you, a doctor will send your prescription to your local pharmacy where you can pick it up and pay for the treatment in-store.