Morning after pill side effects: What to expect after taking ellaOne or Levonelle

This form of emergency contraception is 95 per cent effective.








If you've had unprotected sex and don't want to be pregnant, the safest option is to take the morning-after pill, a form of emergency contraception that's 95 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy. Your options are Levonelle and ellaOne. These progesterone pills can be purchased in pharmacy without a prescription, and work by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary.

The most important thing to know when taking the morning-after pill is that you should take it as soon as possible if you don't want to be pregnant, says Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynaecologist in New York City. To be effective at all, Levonelle must be taken within three days, and ellaOne must be taken within five. Be sure to resume your regular method of birth control as well.


So what should you expect after taking a morning-after pill? "The most common symptom that occurs is irregular bleeding," says Dr Dweck. "That may mean spotting immediately after taking it, and it may mean just an alteration in when your period comesor what your period is like."

Other side effects may include moodiness, breast soreness, cramping, nausea, or vomiting. But in general, side effects aren't a huge issue. "Most people get nothing other than crazy bleeding," Dr Dweck says. The morning-after pill is incredibly safe, and you shouldn't be nervous to take it.

Remember: Emergency contraception shouldn't be used as regular long-term birth control because it's not as effective. "If a period doesn't come on within a week or two after taking the morning-after pill, a pregnancy test needs to be done," says Dr Dweck.