Can I Take Plan B Again After a Week

Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy afterwards unprotected sex activity or if the contraception you lot take used has failed – for example, a rubber has split or you take missed a pill.

There are 2 types of emergency contraception:

• the emergency contraceptive pill – Levonelle or ellaOne (the "forenoon after" pill)
• the intrauterine device (IUD or gyre)

At a glance: facts about emergency contraception

• You need to take the emergency contraceptive pill within 3 days (Levonelle) or 5 days (ellaOne) of unprotected sex for it to be constructive – the sooner you take it, the more than effective it'll be.
• The IUD can exist fitted upwards to v days after unprotected sex, or up to 5 days later on the earliest time you could take ovulated, for information technology to exist effective.
• The IUD is more effective than the contraceptive pill at preventing pregnancy – less than ane% of women who use the IUD get meaning.
• Taking the emergency contraceptive pills Levonelle or ellaOne tin give you a headache or tummy hurting and make you feel or be sick.
• The emergency contraceptive pill can make your side by side period earlier, subsequently or more than painful than usual.
• If y'all're sick (vomit) within ii hours of taking Levonelle or 3 hours of taking ellaOne, go to your GP, chemist or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, as you'll demand to take another dose or have an IUD fitted.
• If you use the IUD equally emergency contraception, it can exist left in and used as your regular contraceptive method.
• If you use the IUD every bit a regular method of contraception, it can make your periods longer, heavier or more painful.
• You may experience some discomfort when the IUD is put in, simply painkillers can help.
• There are no serious side furnishings of using emergency contraception.
• Emergency contraception doesn't crusade an ballgame.

How the emergency pill works

Levonelle

Levonelle contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic (man-made) version of the natural hormone progesterone produced by the ovaries.

Taking information technology's idea to finish or delay the release of an egg (ovulation).

Levonelle has to exist taken inside 72 hours (3 days) of sex to foreclose pregnancy. It doesn't interfere with your regular method of contraception.

ellaOne

ellaOne contains ulipristal acetate, which stops progesterone working normally. This besides works by stopping or delaying the release of an egg.

ellaOne has to be taken inside 120 hours (v days) of sex activity to prevent pregnancy.

If yous have Levonelle or ellaOne

Levonelle and ellaOne don't go along to protect you lot against pregnancy – if you have unprotected sex at any fourth dimension after taking the emergency pill, y'all tin go significant.

They aren't intended to be used as a regular form of contraception. But you can utilize emergency contraception more than once in a menstrual bike if you demand to.

Who can use the emergency pill?

Most women can use the emergency contraceptive pill. This includes women who can't use hormonal contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch. Girls under 16 years old tin can also use information technology.

Simply y'all may not exist able to take the emergency contraceptive pill if you're allergic to anything in it, have severe asthma or take any medicines that may interact with it, such as:

• the herbal medicine St John's Wort
• some medicines used to treat epilepsy, HIV or tuberculosis (TB)
• medicine to make your stomach less acidic, such as omeprazole
• some less usually used antibiotics (rifampicin and rifabutin)

ellaOne can't be used if you're already taking ane of these medicines, as it may not piece of work. Levonelle may nonetheless be used, only the dose may need to exist increased.

Tell a GP, nurse or pharmacist what medicines you're taking, and they tin advise yous if they're safe to take with the emergency contraceptive pill.

You can also read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for more information.

Breastfeeding

Levonelle is condom to have while breastfeeding. Although minor amounts of the hormones in the pill may pass into your breast milk, it'southward not idea to be harmful to your baby.

The safe of ellaOne during breastfeeding isn't notwithstanding known. The manufacturer recommends that you don't breastfeed for one calendar week subsequently taking this pill.

If you're already using regular contraception

You may need to have the emergency pill if you:

• forgot to take some of your regular contraceptive pills
• didn't use your contraceptive patch or vaginal ring correctly
• were late having your contraceptive implant or contraceptive injection

If you accept taken Levonelle, you should:

• take your next contraceptive pill, apply a new patch or insert a new band within 12 hours of taking the emergency pill
• continue taking your regular contraceptive pill as normal

Use additional contraception, such as condoms, for:

• seven days if you use the patch, ring, combined pill (except Qlaira), implant or injection
• 9 days for the combined pill Qlaira
• 2 days if y'all utilise the progestogen-only pill

If you lot take taken ellaOne:

• wait at least 5 days before taking your next contraceptive pill, applying a new patch or inserting a new band

Utilize additional contraception, such as condoms, until you restart your contraception and for an boosted:

• 7 days if you lot utilize the patch, ring, combined pill (except Qlaira), implant or injection
• 9 days for the combined pill Qlaira
• two days if you use the progestogen-but pill

A GP or nurse can advise further on when y'all can start taking regular contraception and how long you should utilise additional contraception.

Side furnishings of using the emergency pill

There are no serious or long-term side effects from taking the emergency contraceptive pill.

Merely it can cause:

• headaches
• tummy pain
• changes to your next period – it can be earlier, later or more than painful than usual
• feeling or being sick – go medical attention if you're sick within 2 hours of taking Levonelle or 3 hours of taking ellaOne, equally you'll need to take some other dose or have an IUD fitted

See a GP or nurse if your symptoms don't get abroad later a few days or if:

• yous think you might be pregnant
• your next period is more than 7 days late
• your period is shorter or lighter than usual
• you have sudden pain in your lower breadbasket – in rare cases, a fertilised egg may accept implanted outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy)

Can I get the emergency contraceptive pill in advance?

You can get the emergency contraceptive pill in advance of having unprotected sex if:

• yous're worried about your contraceptive method declining
• you're going on vacation
• you can't get hold of emergency contraception easily

Run across a GP or nurse for further advice on getting advance emergency contraception. You can besides talk to them about your options for regular methods of contraception.

How the IUD works every bit emergency contraception

The intrauterine device (IUD) is a small-scale, T-shaped plastic and copper device that's put into your womb (uterus) by a doctor or nurse.

It releases copper to stop the egg implanting in your womb or being fertilised.

The IUD tin can be inserted upwardly to five days after unprotected sexual practice, or up to 5 days after the earliest time y'all could accept ovulated (released an egg), to forbid pregnancy.

You lot can likewise choose to have the IUD left in as an ongoing method of contraception.

How constructive is the IUD at preventing pregnancy?

The emergency IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception – less than 1% of women who apply the IUD get pregnant.

Information technology'south more constructive than the emergency pill at preventing pregnancy afterward unprotected sexual practice.

Who can utilise the IUD?

Most women can use an IUD, including those who are HIV positive. A GP or nurse will enquire about your medical history to check if an IUD is suitable for you lot.

The IUD might not be suitable if you lot have:

• an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI) or a pelvic infection
• problems with your womb or cervix
• unexplained bleeding between periods or after sex activity

The emergency IUD won't react with any other medicines you're taking.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

The IUD shouldn't be inserted if there's a run a risk that you may already exist pregnant.

Information technology's safe to apply when you're breastfeeding and it won't affect your milk supply.

Side effects of the IUD

Complications after having an IUD fitted are rare, but can include:

• pain
• infection
• damage to the womb
• the IUD coming out of your womb
• heavier, longer or more painful periods if you continue to use it as a regular method of contraception

Where can I get emergency contraception?

Getting it for free

You can get emergency contraception for free, even if you're nether xvi, from these places, simply they may non all fit the IUD:

• contraception clinics
• sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
• some GP surgeries
• some young people's clinics
• most NHS walk-in centres and pocket-sized injuries units
• virtually pharmacies
• some blow and emergency (A&E) departments (phone start to check)

Find your nearest sexual health clinic

Find your nearest chemist's shop

Ownership it

If you're anile 16 or over, yous tin buy the emergency contraceptive pill from most pharmacies, in person or online, and from some organisations, such every bit the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS). The toll varies, only it will be effectually £25 to £35.

Getting contraception during coronavirus

If you need emergency contraception, telephone call your GP surgery, a chemist's or a sexual wellness clinic as shortly as possible. Only go in person if asked to.

Y'all'll usually take a phone or video consultation. You lot'll exist given an electronic prescription you lot can use to collect your contraception from a pharmacy or get information technology delivered.

You tin also buy emergency contraception directly from a chemist's or private sexual health clinic without a prescription.

Contraception for the future

If you're not using a regular method of contraception, you might consider doing then to protect yourself from an unintended pregnancy.

There are several methods of contraception that protect you for a long flow, then you don't take to call back about them one time they're in identify, or retrieve to employ or take them every solar day or every time you accept sex.

These methods include the:

• contraceptive injection
• contraceptive implant
• intrauterine system (IUS)
• intrauterine device (IUD)

Meet a GP, nurse or visit your nearest sexual health clinic to discuss the options available.

If you're under 16 years erstwhile

Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of xvi.

If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist won't tell your parents (or carer) as long as they believe yous fully understand the information yous're given, and the decisions you're making.

Doctors and nurses piece of work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under sixteen. They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they won't make you lot.

The only time a professional person might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at adventure of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would commonly discuss this with you beginning.

Folio terminal reviewed: 22 Feb 2018
Side by side review due: 22 February 2021

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Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/emergency-contraception/