Emergency Contraception
t o o l k it
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
If you have had sexual intercourse without using contraception, are at risk of pregnancy due to sexual assault or think
your method of contraception may have failed, you may wish to use emergency contraception. This will usually prevent
pregnancy.
A tablet containing a progestogen hormone (Levonorgestrel – Levonelle™) is most commonly used. This is commonly
called the “morning after pill”. It should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, and ideally within 72 hours.
No form of emergency contraception offers a 100% guarantee against pregnancy. Copper IUD insertion (particularly
after 72 hours) is more effective than levonorgestrel.
How does levonorgestrel work?
Levonorgestrel is thought to work by stopping or delaying an egg being released from your ovaries (ovulation). It may also
prevent sperm from fertilising any egg you may have already released, or stop a fertilised egg from attaching itself to the
lining of the womb. Therefore it stops a pregnancy before it is established. It does not work if you are already pregnant.
Tell your doctor if any of the following apply to you….
• You are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• Your period is late or your last period was unusual
• You have had unprotected sex which was more than 72 hours ago, and since your last period
• You have a disease of the small bowel (e.g. Crohn’s disease) that interferes with digestion of food
• You have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars
• You have severe liver problems
• You are taking medication for epilepsy, tuberculosis (TB), HIV infection, fungal infections or herbal remedies containing St
John’s Wort.
Are there side effects?
By and large, levonorgestrel is well tolerated. The most common side effect is nausea and a small number of women will
experience vomiting. If the vomiting occurs within 3 hours of taking the medication you should consult your doctor, as you
may need a second dose.
Other side effects: You might have tender breasts, headaches, lower abdominal (tummy) pain, diarrhoea, feel dizzy or feel
tired after taking this medication. These symptoms should get better after a few days.
You should get your next period at the expected time. However, you may get it earlier or later than expected. You should
consult your GP to rule out pregnancy in the event that your next period is very late or unusually light.
What happens if it doesn’t work?
There is no proof that levonorgestrel causes any harm to a developing baby.
In the event of failure of levonorgestrel there may be an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.
What do you do next?
If you were already taking the contraceptive pill, you can restart it the day after taking emergency contraception. You should
attend your GP to do a pregnancy test at the end of the packet. You must not consider yourself protected against pregnancy
for the rest of your cycle following a dose of levonorgestrel, particularly as it may delay ovulation. If you were not taking the
contraceptive pill, you should consider using another form of contraception for the rest of your cycle, e.g. condoms.
What other issues should you consider?
Having unprotected sex puts you at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections. You can discuss the risks of infection
and the need for tests with your doctor.
(Adapted from protocol of St James’s Hospital Emergency Department, May 2010)
For more information
www.emitoolkit.ie
www.hpsc.ie
www.hse.ie
A downloadable version of this leaflet can be found at www.emitoolkit.ie