Choosing an Emergency Contraceptive

There are two forms of emergency contraception, emergency contraception pills (the morning-after pill), or the IUD (intrauterine device). Choosing the correct one is dependent on several factors, like:

• When did the unprotected sex occur?
• Are you already pregnant?
• Are you looking for an emergency contraceptive that continues to protect you against unwanted pregnancy after you use it?
• Are you able to take medication that will affect your hormones, and are there any risk groups that you belong to that prevent you from using regular birth control pills?
• Are you on any medications that might reduce the effectiveness of an emergency contraceptive pill?

Emergency contraception pills

Emergency contraception pills are widely used across the world. Some are available over the counter, others on prescription only. Even if you think you are a 100% suitable to take an emergency contraception pill and want to buy to over the counter, you will still be asked a set of medical questions by a pharmacist or nurse on duty before being sold the product. The medical questions will help the medical professional determine if it is safe for you to take the pills, and are there simply for your own safety. If you feel uncomfortable visiting a pharmacist or nurse, you can order emergency contraception online.

The emergency contraception pill Levonelle is suitable if you can take it within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. If you pass 72 hours, then the next best option is ellaOne, which can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected sex. Both are more effective if taken as soon as possible after sex as possible. Neither is effective if you are already pregnant, and both cannot be used as an ongoing form of birth control or pregnancy prevention.

An IUD is effective if inserted within 120 hours after unprotected sex has occurred. It may be more difficult to opt for an IUD simply because insertion requires a medical procedure which can only be performed by a doctor, and finding a doctor to perform it within the 120 hour cut off can be tricky. If the insertion is successful, and done within 120 hours, pregnancy will be prevented. If you are already pregnant an IUD will not be effective and could inflict harm on an unborn foetus. However, the benefit of an IUD is that it can be used as an ongoing form of contraception, possibly for several years.

Which emergency contraceptive pill is better?

It is debatable whether Levonelle or ellaOne is better than the other. ellaOne does last for longer, and there is evidence that during the first 3 days after unprotected sex it can marginally prevent more pregnancies than Levonelle. However, ellaOne is a newer medication, and has not undergone as many trials or long-term tests that Levonelle has.

Individuals react differently to different medicines, which will happen with different emergency contraception pills as they do use different synthetic hormones. Here are a few pros and cons which might help you make a decision.

If you are in any way unsure about which emergency contraception is best for you, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions or are taking medication that you think might contradict the efficacy of your chosen emergency contraception, do not hesitate to contact one of our trained doctors online, who can help you choose the correct form of emergency contraception.