Morning After Pill

The morning-after-pill works by delaying ovulation and its subsequent fertilization. Some morning-after-pills also stop the hormone progesterone from working in its usual way, which also helps prevent a pregnancy from occurring.

The simplest way to know whether the morning-after-pill has worked (or you weren’t at risk of pregnancy) is to have your period. If your period has not yet arrived (or normalized), a pregnancy test may be required, which is usually done approximately 3 weeks after taking the morning-after-pill.

While the morning-after-pill should be taken within 5 days of unprotected sex, it is recommended to take it as soon as possible for maximum effectiveness.

Taking the morning-after-pill within the first 24 hours of having unprotected sex has an effectiveness of 95%. However, please understand that if your egg has already been released and fertilization has occurred, the morning-after-pill will not work, as it cannot abort a pregnancy.

There is no research to suggest that having two or three (or more) pills will increase the effectiveness of the morning-after-pill. In fact, more than one dose in a cycle can increase the chances of pregnancy.

However, if your weight is over 70 kilograms (or BMI is greater than 26), you will need a second dose of Levonelle (taken within 3 days of unprotected sex).

While you may be able to take the same type of pill more than once in your cycle, it is not designed to replace your normal method of contraception.

Please speak to your clinician for more advice about your particular circumstances.

Your period may be delayed by up to one week. If you don’t have your period within three to four weeks of taking the morning-after-pill, please take a pregnancy test.

We would advise waiting until you have had your period before engaging in sex again. This is to minimize your risk of pregnancy.

The 3-day pill is safe to take while breastfeeding, but a small amount of Progesterone may pass into your breast milk. It is not harmful to your baby.

However, it is not recommended to breastfeed for 5 days after taking the 5-day pill, as the safety is not fully known.

Side effects may include:

• Headache
• Nausea/vomiting
• Cramps & lower abdominal pain
• Dizziness
• Tender breasts
• Spotting

If you find yourself vomiting within 2-3 hours of taking the morning-after-pill (the exact time can vary depending on the type), please take another dose.