ellaOne

The ellaOne morning after pill works by changing the activity of the natural female sex hormone progesterone. This stops the release of an egg from the ovaries and means there will be no egg for any sperm to fertilise, so you will not get pregnant. ellaOne works best if you take it within 24 hours of unprotected sex, but it can be taken within 5 days.

All types of morning after pill work by delaying ovulation.

What if I’m ovulating, pregnant, or breastfeeding?

If you’re:

• Ovulating: Ovulation usually happens 14 days before your period starts for women who have a 28 day cycle. If you have ovulated, ellaOne will not be effective. If you think you have already ovulated, the copper IUD is the best emergency contraception.
• Pregnant: Do not use ellaOne if you are already pregnant.
• Breastfeeding: Do not breastfeed for 1 week after you take ellaOne. Throw away any breast milk from your breast pump during this week.

ellaOne has been proven to be up to 98% effective. In a clinical trial, out of 1,000 women taking ellaOne, only 9 got pregnant. It’s most effective when taken within 24 hours, but it’s still effective within 5 days of unprotected sex.

ellaOne also has a longer period of effectiveness than other morning after pills, making it the most reliable choice of pill if it’s been between 3 and 5 days since you had unprotected sex.

Swallow one ellaOne pill with water as soon as possible or up to 120 hours after having unprotected sex. You can take ellaOne before or after having food. If you’re sick within 3 hours of taking ellaOne, take another tablet as soon as you can.

You won’t be protected against pregnancy if you have unprotected sex after taking ellaOne – use extra protection, like condoms, until you have your next period. You should not use ellaOne as a regular way to prevent pregnancy. Speak to your doctor for advice on whether hormonal contraception or other methods are right for you.

ellaOne will not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The only way to prevent STIs is by using condoms during sex. You can go to a sexual health clinic to check if you have any STIs.

How often can I take ellaOne?

It’s not recommended to take ellaOne often, as this could cause side effects and regular use of ellaOne may affect your periods. If you need to take ellaOne again, speak to a doctor or pharmacist about other forms of contraception that are designed for long-term use and are safer for your body.

The only way to know for sure if ellaOne has worked is to wait for your next period. If your period is more than 7 days late or you have abdominal pain or morning sickness, you may be pregnant. Take a pregnancy test and see a doctor if you're pregnant.

You can take ellaOne if you’re of childbearing age and want to prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sex. ellaOne must be taken within 5 days of having unprotected sex. Unprotected sex can include:

• having sex without a form of protection, even if your partner didn’t ejaculate inside you
• using a condom that came off, tore, or slipped off, even if you put a new one on
• not taking your oral contraceptive pill correctly, such as missing a pill or not taking it within the 3 or 12-hour window if you take the mini pill

You should not take ellaOne if you are allergic to any of the ingredients or are already pregnant.

Speak to your doctor before taking ellaOne if you have:

• any symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness
• a late period
• severe asthma and are using steroid tablets
• an allergy or intolerance to lactose
• severe liver disease

You may experience some side effects when taking ellaOne.

Common side effects of ellaOne include:

• nausea
• abdominal pain
• vomiting
• painful periods
• headaches
• breast tenderness
• dizziness
• mood swings
• back pain
• muscle pain
• tiredness

Uncommon side effects of ellaOne include:

• diarrhoea
• heartburn
• wind
• unusual vaginal bleeding
• hot flushes
• changes in appetite
• acne
• fever

Rare side effects of ellaOne include:

• genital pain
• pain during sex
• concentration loss
• vertigo
• shaking
• taste changes
• hives
• light sensitivity

For a full list of the possible side effects of ellaOne, you can read the patient information leaflet which comes in your ellaOne box. If you experience any of these side effects after taking ellaOne, please get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible.

What if I vomit after taking ellaOne?

“ellaOne can cause nausea and vomiting, although not everybody will experience these side effects. If you vomit within 3 hours of taking ellaOne, you’ll need to take another dose as soon as you can as it may not have had time to work. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist straight away.” Dr Babak Ashrafi, Clinical Lead for Service Expansion

You may not be able to take ellaOne if you’ve taken certain medications in the past 4 weeks that make ellaOne less effective. These include medications for:

• epilepsy, such as primidone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine
• tuberculosis, such as rifampicin, rifabutin
• HIV, such as ritonavir, efavirenz
• fungal infections, such as griseofulvin
• depressive moods, such as St John’s wort

Do not take ellaOne with other emergency contraception pills that contain levonorgestrel, such as Levonelle. This is because if you take them together they might be less effective.

Talk to your doctor or a healthcare professional about any medications you have taken in the past 4 weeks to find out if you can take ellaOne. Your doctor may prescribe a different type of emergency contraception, such as the copper intrauterine device (IUD).

There are no foods and drinks that interact with ellaOne, but it’s best to avoid alcohol or any heavy, fatty, greasy, or fried foods, especially if you get side effects.

You can get ellaOne at most pharmacies or at a sexual health clinic. You can also buy ellaOne online through trusted and regulated services, such as Asda Online Doctor. To get started, fill in a short online questionnaire. One of our doctors will check if ellaOne is the right emergency contraceptive for you.

If suitable, you can request ellaOne to be delivered to your home in discreet packaging with next day delivery. You can also collect it from your local Asda Pharmacy by selecting same day Click & Collect at checkout.

Check our delivery and Click & Collect information if you’re ordering on a weekend or bank holiday.

Which active ingredients does ellaOne contain?

Each ellaOne tablet contains 30mg of the active ingredient ulipristal acetate.

The inactive ingredients in ellaOne include:

• lactose monohydrate
• povidone
• croscarmellose sodium
• magnesium stearate

ellaOne contains lactose and may not be suitable if you’re lactose intolerant or vegan.

What does ellaOne look like?

An ellaOne tablet is cream-coloured, round, curved and 9mm in diameter. You can see the word ella printed on each side. ellaOne is available in a pack size of 1 tablet in a foil-backed blister strip.

Information on the manufacturer

The marketing authorisation holder for ellaOne is LABORATOIRE HRA PHARMA, 200 avenue de Paris, 92320 CHATILLON, France.

The manufacturer for ellaOne is Cenexi,17, rue de Pontoise, 95520 Osny, France.

See the patient information leaflet for further details about the manufacturer of ellaOne.