Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if the contraception you have used has failed – for example, a condom has split or you have missed a pill.
There are 2 types of emergency contraception:
Levonelle
Levonelle contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic (man-made) version of the natural hormone progesterone produced by the ovaries.
Taking it's thought to stop or delay the release of an egg (ovulation).
Levonelle has to be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of sex to prevent pregnancy. It doesn't interfere with your regular method of contraception.
ellaOne
ellaOne contains ulipristal acetate, which stops progesterone working normally. This also works by stopping or delaying the release of an egg.
ellaOne has to be taken within 120 hours (5 days) of sex to prevent pregnancy.
If you take Levonelle or ellaOne
Levonelle and ellaOne don't continue to protect you against pregnancy – if you have unprotected sex at any time after taking the emergency pill, you can become pregnant.
They aren't intended to be used as a regular form of contraception. But you can use emergency contraception more than once in a menstrual cycle if you need to.
Taking the emergency contraceptive pills Levonelle or ellaOne can give you a headache or tummy pain and make you feel or be sick.
The emergency contraceptive pill can make your next period earlier, later or more painful than usual.
If you're sick (vomit) within 2 hours of taking Levonelle or 3 hours of taking ellaOne, go to your GP, pharmacist or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, as you'll need to take another dose or have an IUD fitted.
There are no serious side effects of using emergency contraception.
Emergency contraception doesn't cause an abortion.
The intrauterine device (IUD) is a small, 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 can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sex, or up to 5 days after the earliest time you could have ovulated (released an egg), to prevent pregnancy.
You can also choose to have the IUD left in as an ongoing method of contraception.
The emergency IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception – less than 1% of women who use the IUD get pregnant.
It's more effective than the emergency pill at preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex.
Most women can use an IUD, including those who are HIV positive. A GP or nurse will ask about your medical history to check if an IUD is suitable for you.
The IUD might not be suitable if you have:
The emergency IUD won't react with any other medicines you're taking.
The IUD shouldn't be inserted if there's a risk that you may already be pregnant.
It's safe to use when you're breastfeeding and it won't affect your milk supply.
Complications after having an IUD fitted are rare, but can include:
You can get the emergency coil and contraceptive pills from our service as well as the following places:
If you have done a pregnancy test and it is positive this means you are pregnant. All tests, including tests you do yourself, are very reliable.
It's normal to feel a range of different emotions when you find out you are pregnant. For some it can be very difficult working out what to do, but there is support available to help you think through all your options.
If you want to continue the pregnancy you need to arrange to see your GP who can refer you to the community midwife team for your ante-natal care. Your GP can also be a good person to talk through your options with if you are not sure what to do. Click here for health advice on what to do if you are pregnant. Baby Buddy 2.0: is a free, NHS-approved, award-winning pregnancy and parenting app. download the new app: https://bit.ly/BB2_download
If you are undecided or if you want to arrange a termination then you need to contact the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) or Marie Stopes. They will talk through all your options with you and they can arrange for you to see a counsellor if you are still unsure about what to do. If you are sure that you want a termination they will arrange an appointment for you. Please click here for the BPAS website and here for the Marie Stopes website. Termination is free for most people.
An abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy.
It's also sometimes known as a termination of pregnancy.
The pregnancy is ended either by taking medicines or having a surgical procedure.
Before having an abortion, you'll have an appointment to talk about your decision and what happens next.
Whenever possible, you should be given a choice of how you would like the abortion to be carried out.
There are 2 options:
After an abortion, you'll probably need to take things easy for a few days. It's likely you'll have some discomfort and vaginal bleeding for up to 2 weeks.
Abortion is a safe procedure. Abortions are safest, and happen with less pain and bleeding, when carried out as early as possible in pregnancy.
Most will not experience any problems, but there is a small risk of complications, such as:
If complications do occur, you may need further treatment, including surgery.
Having an abortion will not affect your chances of becoming pregnant again and having normal pregnancies in the future. You may be able to get pregnant immediately after an abortion so need to start contraception as soon as possible.
Most abortions in England, Wales and Scotland are carried out before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
They can be carried out after 24 weeks in very limited circumstances – for example, if the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability.
The decision to have an abortion is yours alone.
Some may be certain they want to have an abortion, while others may find it more difficult to make a decision.
Everyone requesting an abortion can discuss their options with, and receive support from, a trained pregnancy counsellor if they wish.
Abortion can bring up some difficult feelings, whether you’re deciding whether it’s the right option or you or you’ve had an abortion already. It’s okay to talk about your emotions around abortion and to need support. Abortion services offer counselling, where you can talk about your mental health in a non-judgemental and confidential environment.
Abortions can only be carried out under the care of an NHS hospital or a licensed clinic, and are usually available free of charge on the NHS.
There are two main abortion providers in the UK. Please follow these links for more information:
You can contact either of these providers to discuss your options around abortion.
After an abortion you will be offered ongoing contraception within the abortion service. In addition to this you can access contraception after an abortion at your GP or through our services - please see our contraception page for more information.
Call our booking line 01904 721111 to book an appointment
If you are under 17 years old you can text or call 07973775692
For information about where our clinics are please follow this link YorSexualHealth - Clinic Information
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22nd April 2024
