Medical
Emergency
If you have a medical emergency, call 999 or NHS 111. Do not use this service.
Key Information
The medicine | ellaOne (ulipristal acetate) 30mg |
When should I take it? | Within 5 days (120 hours) of unprotected sex. EllaOne can be taken at any point during your menstrual cycle. |
| Effectiveness | Current studies show ellaOne can be effective at preventing pregnancy for a full 5 days after unprotected sex but should be taken as soon as possible. Please note, ellaOne does not give any protection against sexually transmitted infections. |
Side effects | Most commonly, irregular bleeding, headache, nausea, dizziness and abdominal pain. |
| Who shouldn't use this service | There are some other conditions and medications that might make ellaOne less likely to work. If this is the case, our medical team will advise you of your treatment options during your online consultation. |
Taking ellaOne
How does it work?
ellaOne contains ulipristal acetate, a chemical that prevents or delays you from ovulating, thus protecting you against pregnancy.
ellaOne comes as a single tablet, that can be taken up to 5 days after having unprotected sex - but the sooner the better.
If you vomit up to 3 hours after taking ellaOne, you will need to take another tablet.
Does ellaOne protect against anything other than pregnancy?
No. EllaOne will not protect you against any sexually transmitted infections, and should not be used as a regular form of contraception.
If you are worried you might have a sexually transmitted infection, you can visit our sexual health clinic for advice, tests and treatments.
If you need regular contraception, then you might consider getting a prescription for the contraceptive pill from our online clinic.