Morning after pill (emergency contraception) treatments and information

As with all medicines, ellaOne and Levonorgestrel can cause some side effects. Neither medicine should affect your fertility in the long term.

The most common side effects for ellaOne include changes in mood, tiredness, headache, nausea (feeling sick)/vomiting, dizziness, period pains, pelvic/back pain, breast tenderness and abdominal (tummy) pain.                    

The most common side effects for Levonorgestrel include tiredness, headache, nausea (feeling sick), abdominal pain, and irregular bleeding.

You can request and pay for emergency contraception online. Depending on the type you need, you may or may not need a prescription. However, you will always have to answer a series of questions before receiving the pill to make sure it is clinically suitable.

Request treatment and complete your emergency contraception questionnaire. We will recommend the treatment that is safe and suitable for you. Available for discreet collection in-store only.

You can get the morning after pill for free from most GP surgeries, pharmacies or sexual health clinics. You can find your local sexual health clinic here.  

Choosing whether the morning after pill is the right option for you can be a difficult process. It often depends on how recently you had unprotected sex. We will recommend the most suitable treatment for your circumstances.

Once you have a prescription, we can answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, you can ask the pharmacist for advice in private when you go in-store to collect.

If you want to avoid pregnancy and think there’s a chance you will have unprotected sex, you can buy the morning after pill for future use through our service.

The most important thing is that you take emergency contraception as soon as possible after you have had unprotected sex. In this respect, ordering in advance and having the pill to hand when you need it can be very helpful. However, you should not rely on the morning after pill as a method of routine contraception.

Find out more about the getting the morning after pill in advance here. 

The most effective form of emergency contraception is the copper coil, also known as an intrauterine device (IUD). This can be fitted by a trained medical professional up to 5 days after unprotected sex. Once fitted, it can remain in place for several years as routine contraception.

If you are thinking of opting for a coil, we recommend that you still take the morning after pill, just in case you can’t get a coil fitted in time.

Emergency contraception does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you have had sex without a condom you may have been exposed to an STI. Our confidential sexual health testing clinic provides advice, tests and treatments for a range of STIs, so you can put your mind at rest.

Alternatively, you could visit your local sexual health clinic or arrange to see your GP.