When do you need emergency contraception

Emergency contraceptives, sometimes called morning-after pills, are designed to protect against pregnancy no matter the reason. Contact your Nurx medical provider to discuss any concerns you may have over missed pills so we can help you decide if emergency contraception is right for you. While condoms are effective at preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, they can fail on occasion. Most of these failures are due to the condom breaking, slipping, or falling off.

When this happens, sperm can potentially make its way to your uterus, increasing your pregnancy risk. If you suspect a condom has failed in any way, you can take emergency contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Combination birth control is one of the most effective ways to prevent ovulation and pregnancy. Oral combination birth control pills contain various levels of hormones.

Taking the pill each day at the same time is imperative for the medication to be most effective. This applies to all combination contraceptives, including the pill, patch, and ring. While the progestin-only mini pill is an effective method of birth control, missing a dose or taking a dose late can reduce its effectiveness.

Also, if you are sick and experience vomiting, your body might not receive the entire hormone dose. When it comes to emergency contraception, you have options. There are two primary oral methods of emergency contraception, both of which are available through Nurx.

Whichever emergency contraception method you choose, follow all package directions or instructions from your Nurx medical provider. Remember that over-the-counter methods are most effective when taken as soon as possible and within three days of having sex, while prescription Ella lengthens that window to five days. Women should take certain precautions when using emergency contraception and oral contraceptives and be aware of side effects that might accompany these medications:. These can indicate a miscarriage or that the fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube ectopic pregnancy.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Sections for Morning-after pill About. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kaunitz AM. Emergency contraception. Accessed March 29, Frequently asked questions. Contraception FAQ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

It stops or delays ovulation and makes it more difficult for a fertilised egg to implant into your womb. The IUD is placed inside your womb. It damages both the sperm and the egg, and prevents a fertilised egg implanting in your womb.

It must be fitted by a healthcare professional within five days of having unprotected sex, or, if it's possible to estimate when you ovulate, up to five days after you ovulate. The IUD is the most effective type of emergency contraception.

You can keep the IUD in as your regular method of contraception, or a healthcare professional can remove it during your next period. Emergency contraception may not be suitable for everyone.

Find out more about emergency contraception. If you're sick vomit within three hours of taking Levonelle or ellaOne, speak to your GP. You may need to take another pill. Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy if you haven't used contraception or think your usual method of contraception has failed. Both types of emergency contraception are effective at preventing pregnancy if they are used soon after unprotected sex.

It's thought ellaOne is more effective than Levonelle. Emergency contraception should not be used instead of your usual method of contraception.

See Where can I get emergency contraception? It can be difficult to know how many pregnancies the emergency pill or IUD prevent, as there is no way to know for sure how many women would have got pregnant if they didn't take it.

Levonelle contains levonorgestrel and has to be taken within 72 hours three days of sex. EllaOne contains ulipristal acetate and is licensed to be taken within hours five days of sex. Both Levonelle and ellaOne are effective only if taken before the release of an egg from the ovary ovulation.

The sooner you take Levonelle or ellaOne, the more effective it will be. Levonelle appears not to be effective after levels of LH start to rise.

EllaOne continues to be effective a little later in the cycle. This may be one reason why ellaOne has been slightly more effective than Levonelle in clinical trials. If you vomit within two hours of taking Levonelle or three hours of taking ellaOne, seek medical advice as you will need to take another dose or have an IUD fitted.

This means less than 1 woman in using the IUD as emergency contraception will get pregnant. The IUD must be fitted by a healthcare professional within five days hours of having unprotected sex or, if it's possible to estimate when you ovulate, up to five days after you ovulate. Find out more about emergency contraception , including how it works and possible side effects.

Home Healthy living Contraception Emergencies Emergency contraception. Emergency contraception See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. What is emergency contraception? Where can I get it? How effective is it? There are two types: the emergency contraceptive pill sometimes called the morning after pill the IUD intrauterine device, or coil At a glance: emergency contraception The emergency pill The IUD as emergency contraception Where to get emergency contraception Contraception for the future There are two kinds of emergency contraceptive pill.

Emergency contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted infections STIs. Emergency contraception self-help guide Find out more about how to get emergency contraception and where to get it. At a glance : facts about emergency contraception Both types of emergency contraception are effective at preventing pregnancy if they are used soon after unprotected sex.

Levonelle or ellaOne can make you feel sick, dizzy or tired, or give you a headache, tender breasts or abdominal pain. Levonelle or ellaOne can make your period earlier or later than usual. If you use the IUD as emergency contraception, it can be left in as your regular contraceptive method. If you use the IUD as a regular method of contraception, it can make your periods longer, heavier or more painful. You may feel some discomfort when the IUD is put in — painkillers can help to relieve this.

There are no serious side effects of using emergency contraception. Emergency contraception does not cause an abortion. The emergency pill Levonelle Levonelle contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of the natural hormone progesterone. How effective is the emergency pill at preventing pregnancy?