ellaOne® Morning After Pill

ellaOne’s active ingredient, ulipristal acetate, temporarily blocks progesterone receptors to prevent hormonal changes necessary for the release of a mature egg in the body (known as ovulation), until the sperm in the reproductive tract are no longer capable of fertilising an egg.

ellaOne is 98% effective at preventing unplanned pregnancy. The treatment should be taken within 5 days (120 hours) according to the instructions in the patient information leaflet.

It is important to note that the effectiveness of ellaOne also depends on physiological factors, such as the individual’s weight and body mass index (BMI). ellaOne may be less effective for women weighing more than 85kg or who have a BMI exceeding 30 kg/m².

ellaOne is most effective when taken as soon as possible and loses its efficacy with time. Moreover, ellaOne is most effective before ovulation begins.

ellaOne delays ovulation for a minimum of 5 days (120 hours), which is the average lifespan of a sperm once it has entered the female reproductive system. This ensures the sperm have died before ovulation occurs, preventing the fertilisation of an egg.

ellaOne can stay in your system for several days, but it only remains effective for 5 days (120 hours). This is due to the fact that the concentration of the active ingredient in ellaOne in your system halves every 32 hours and is likely to be too low to prevent pregnancy after 5 days of taking the medication.

You can take ellaOne within 5 days (120 hours) of unprotected intercourse. It is recommended to take ellaOne as soon as possible, as the treatment is 98% effective when taken within 120 hours, but loses its effectiveness with time.

Take an ellaOne tablet as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse, swallowing it whole with water. Please note that if you vomit within 3 hours of taking ellaOne, you will need to take another dose immediately.

ellaOne starts working immediately. It should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex for maximum effectiveness.

You can buy ellaOne from Pharmica after completing our quick online consultation to determine treatment suitability.

ellaOne is available over the counter in the UK. However, we require patients to complete our free online medical assessment at Pharmica to maximise patient safety and ensure treatment suitability.

The two main alternatives to ellaOne are:

• Levonorgestrel - a generic emergency contraceptive containing the active ingredient ‘levonorgestrel’, which inhibits the release of luteinising hormone (LH) to delay ovulation and therefore prevent unplanned pregnancy. Levonorgestrel is sometimes referred to as ‘Plan B’.
• Levonelle - a branded version of Levonorgestrel that is medically identical to Levonorgestrel, but differs in branding and price.

ellaOne is effective for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, while Levonorgestrel and Levonelle are effective for up to 3 days (72 hours).

ellaOne contains ulipristal acetate, which blocks progesterone receptors and delays ovulation. In comparison, Levonorgestrel contains a synthetic hormone that mimics progesterone to prevent the release of an egg.

Additionally, ellaOne remains effective for up to 5 days (120 hours), while Levonorgestrel is effective for up to 3 days (72 hours).

ellaOne contains the active ingredient ulpristal acetate, which blocks progesterone receptors to prevent an unplanned pregnancy and remains effective for up to 5 days.

In contrast, Levonelle contains the active ingredient ‘levonorgestrel’, which mimics progesterone to prevent the release of an egg, and is effective for up to 3 days.

ellaOne should not be used by individuals who are allergic to ulipristal acetate or any of the other ingredients in ellaOne.

Additionally, ellaOne should not be used by individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or experiencing symptoms that may suggest pregnancy (e.g. nausea, late period) without consulting a pharmacist or doctor. This also applies to individuals who have severe asthma or liver disease.

ellaOne cannot prevent pregnancy if it is taken after ovulation has already occurred. Its mechanism relies on delaying ovulation, so its efficacy is reduced if ovulation has already happened.