Common Side Effects of EllaOne Tablets and Levonelle: Emergency Contraception Edinburgh

Emergency contraception is an essential option for preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. In the UK, the two most widely used emergency contraceptive pills are ellaOne tablets and Levonelle, alongside the copper intrauterine device (IUD), which is also a highly effective emergency option. While all of these methods are safe and effective, they can cause some temporary side effects, and each has different timing windows and considerations. Understanding these effects and how to manage them can help you feel more confident and informed when deciding on emergency contraception.

At Newington Pharmacy, we provide expert advice on emergency contraception, ensuring you have access to the right information and support when you need it most. In this guide, we’ll explore how each method works, the common side effects of ellaOne tablets and Levonelle, practical tips on how to manage them, and when it’s important to seek further medical advice.

Needing emergency contraception is a common experience, and it can happen for a wide range of reasons, from a condom breaking or slipping, to missing regular contraceptive pills, to simply not having used contraception at all. Whatever the circumstances, seeking emergency contraception promptly is a sensible, responsible step, and pharmacy teams are used to supporting people through this without judgement, whatever led to needing it on this occasion.

Book a consultation with our team as soon as possible if you think you need emergency contraception.

Key Takeaways

• ellaOne is effective for up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, while Levonelle is effective for up to three days (72 hours), though both work best when taken as soon as possible.
• The copper IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception and can also serve as an ongoing contraceptive method once fitted.
• Common side effects, including nausea, headaches, tenderness, and changes to your next period, are generally mild and settle within a few days.
• Certain medications, health conditions, and factors such as body weight or breastfeeding can affect which option is most suitable, so a pharmacist consultation is important.
• Severe abdominal pain after taking emergency contraception should always be treated as urgent, since it could indicate an ectopic pregnancy.
• Newington Pharmacy in Edinburgh offers confidential, judgement-free access to emergency contraception and advice on ongoing contraceptive planning.

Emergency Contraception: ellaOne vs. Levonelle

Before discussing side effects, it’s important to understand how emergency contraception like ellaOne tablets and Levonelle actually work, since this affects both their timing windows and how they should be used.

ellaOne contains ulipristal acetate, which delays or prevents ovulation, reducing the risk of pregnancy. It is generally considered the more effective of the two oral options and can be taken up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, making it a useful choice if some time has already passed.

Levonelle contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of progesterone that works by stopping or delaying ovulation. It is effective for up to three days (72 hours) after unprotected sex but is most effective when taken as soon as possible, since its effectiveness decreases the longer you wait within that window.

Both options are available at Newington Pharmacy, where our team can provide guidance on which may be best for you based on your circumstances, including how much time has passed since unprotected sex, your regular medications, and other individual factors.

Choosing between the two is not always a straightforward decision based on timing alone. While Levonelle is often considered slightly more familiar to many people, ellaOne is generally regarded as more effective across its full window of use, including within the first 72 hours where both options are technically available. This is one of several reasons a brief consultation with a pharmacist is genuinely valuable, rather than simply asking for whichever option you have heard of before, since the most appropriate choice can depend on factors specific to your situation.

It is also worth understanding that neither ellaOne nor Levonelle will cause an abortion or affect an existing pregnancy, since they work by preventing or delaying ovulation before pregnancy occurs, rather than acting after fertilisation has taken place. If you are already pregnant, taking emergency contraception will not be effective and will not harm the existing pregnancy, but it also will not help, which is why a pregnancy test is recommended if there is any possibility you may already be pregnant from an earlier point in your cycle.

Common Side Effects of ellaOne and Levonelle

Like all medications, emergency contraceptive pills can cause side effects. These vary from person to person but are generally mild and short-lived, resolving within a few days for most people.

It can be reassuring to know in advance which side effects are common and expected, since this can help you distinguish between a normal, temporary reaction and something that genuinely needs medical attention. Most people experience only one or two of the effects described below, if any at all, and the overall experience is generally far less significant than people sometimes anticipate beforehand.

1. Nausea and Vomiting

Some women experience nausea after taking ellaOne tablets or Levonelle, which is one of the more commonly reported side effects. If vomiting occurs within three hours of taking the pill, the dose may not have been fully absorbed, and you may need to take another dose, so it is important to speak to a pharmacist promptly if this happens rather than assuming the first dose was still effective.

How to Manage It:

• Take the tablet with food or a glass of milk.
• Avoid rich, greasy, or spicy foods before and after taking the pill.
• If you’re prone to nausea, consider taking anti-nausea medication beforehand, but speak to a pharmacist first, since not all anti-nausea medications are suitable to combine with emergency contraception.

2. Changes to Your Menstrual Cycle

Your next period may be earlier, later, or heavier than usual after taking emergency contraception, since both ellaOne and Levonelle work by affecting your hormonal cycle. Spotting or irregular bleeding can also occur between taking the pill and your next period, which is a recognised and generally harmless effect rather than a sign that something has gone wrong.

How to Manage It:

• Keep track of your menstrual cycle to monitor any unusual changes and give yourself a clear reference point.
• If your period is more than seven days late, take a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy, since emergency contraception reduces but does not eliminate the risk entirely.
• If you experience prolonged heavy bleeding, seek medical advice rather than assuming it will resolve on its own.

3. Headaches and Dizziness

Some people report headaches or feeling lightheaded after taking emergency contraception, which is thought to be linked to the hormonal changes involved. These symptoms typically subside within a day or two without requiring specific treatment.

How to Manage It:

• Stay hydrated and rest as needed, particularly in the first 24 hours after taking the tablet.
• Take a mild pain reliever such as paracetamol if necessary, following the standard dosing guidance.
• Avoid alcohol, as it may worsen dizziness or interact with how you are feeling generally.

4. Tiredness and Fatigue

Feeling unusually tired or sluggish after taking ellaOne tablets or Levonelle is common, and this is generally a short-term effect linked to the body’s hormonal response rather than anything requiring specific concern.

How to Manage It:

• Allow yourself time to rest if possible, particularly in the day or two following the dose.
• Stay hydrated and eat balanced meals to help maintain your energy levels during this period.
• Avoid excessive caffeine, as it may disrupt your sleep cycle and make fatigue feel more pronounced overall.

5. Breast Tenderness

Some women notice temporary breast tenderness after taking emergency contraception, which is due to hormonal changes affecting the body in a similar way to changes some people notice around their regular menstrual cycle.

How to Manage It:

• Wear a supportive bra to reduce discomfort, particularly during physical activity.
• Apply a warm compress or take over-the-counter pain relief if needed, following standard dosing guidance.

6. Stomach Pain or Cramps

Mild abdominal discomfort or cramping is a possible side effect of emergency contraceptive pills, generally settling within a day or two alongside other hormonal side effects.

How to Manage It:

• Use a hot water bottle or heating pad to ease cramps in a similar way to managing regular period pain.
• Gentle movement or light stretching may also help ease mild discomfort.
• If you experience severe pain, consult a healthcare professional promptly, as it could indicate another issue, such as an ectopic pregnancy, which requires urgent assessment rather than home management.

Having read through the possible side effects, it can help to step back and compare all three options side by side.  The table below summarises the main differences before we move on to precautions worth discussing with your pharmacist.

Emergency Contraception Precautions

While emergency contraception is suitable for most people, certain factors are worth discussing with a pharmacist before taking either ellaOne or Levonelle. Some regular medications, including certain treatments for epilepsy, tuberculosis, HIV, and some herbal remedies such as St John’s Wort, can interact with emergency contraception and reduce its effectiveness, so it is important to mention any medications you are taking during your consultation.

Body weight has also been discussed in relation to the effectiveness of certain emergency contraceptive pills, and your pharmacist can advise on whether this is a relevant consideration for you individually, including whether a copper IUD might be a more reliable option in some circumstances. If you are currently breastfeeding, this is also worth mentioning, since guidance can differ slightly between ellaOne and Levonelle regarding breastfeeding timing afterwards.

Being open about your full medical history and current medications during your consultation, even if it feels unrelated, allows your pharmacist to recommend the most appropriate and effective option for your specific situation, rather than assuming a standard approach will suit everyone equally.

It is also worth mentioning if you have taken emergency contraception earlier in the same menstrual cycle, since this can affect which option is recommended and how it should be taken. Similarly, if you are already using regular hormonal contraception, such as the combined pill or progestogen-only pill, but missed doses or experienced a failure, your pharmacist can advise on both the emergency contraception itself and how to safely restart or continue your regular method afterwards, including whether additional precautions such as condoms are needed for a period following the emergency dose.

People with certain underlying health conditions, including severe liver disease or specific malabsorption conditions affecting the digestive system, may also need particular consideration when choosing between options, which is another reason a proper consultation matters more than simply requesting a specific product by name. Allergies to any ingredient in either tablet are also an important detail to share, even if you are not entirely sure of the full ingredient list yourself, since your pharmacist can check this on your behalf.  Contact our team to book a consultation and discuss your medical history before choosing an option.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Most side effects of ellaOne tablets and Levonelle resolve within a few days without any specific treatment. However, you should seek medical advice if:

• You experience severe abdominal pain, as this could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, which requires urgent assessment.
• Your period is more than seven days late, or it is significantly lighter or heavier than usual.
• You develop unusual symptoms that persist or worsen rather than settling after a day or two.
• You vomit within three hours of taking the tablet and are unsure whether you need a repeat dose.

Severe abdominal pain in particular should never be dismissed as a normal side effect, since an ectopic pregnancy is a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention. If you experience this symptom, seek urgent medical advice through your GP, NHS 24, or emergency services rather than waiting to see if it improves.

It is also worth remembering that emergency contraception significantly reduces the risk of pregnancy but does not eliminate it entirely, particularly the further into its effective window it is taken. This is why any signs suggestive of pregnancy after taking emergency contraception, including a missed or unusually different period, are always worth checking with a test rather than assumed to be a normal side effect.

Can Emergency Contraception Affect Future Fertility?

Many women worry that taking emergency contraception could impact their fertility, which is a completely understandable concern given how significant a decision this can feel. However, both ellaOne tablets and Levonelle do not have any long-term effects on fertility, and this includes the copper IUD when used and removed appropriately. Your ability to conceive returns to normal as soon as you ovulate again, which could be within the same cycle you took emergency contraception in, depending on timing.

It is worth noting that because emergency contraception can affect the timing of your cycle, this may make it harder to predict ovulation accurately for a short period afterwards, but this is a temporary effect on cycle timing rather than any lasting impact on your underlying fertility.

Emergency Contraception Confidentiality

For many people, one of the biggest concerns when seeking emergency contraception is privacy, whether that means concerns about confidentiality from a pharmacy team or worries about being judged for needing the service in the first place. Pharmacy consultations for emergency contraception are conducted privately, and pharmacists are bound by the same professional confidentiality standards as other healthcare providers, meaning your details and the reason for your visit remain private.

It is also worth knowing that seeking emergency contraception is an extremely common reason for a pharmacy consultation, and pharmacy teams approach these conversations professionally and without judgement, regardless of the circumstances that led to needing it. If privacy is a particular concern for you, most pharmacies, including ours, offer a private consultation area away from the main shop floor specifically for these kinds of conversations.

Emergency Contraception and Contraceptive Planning

Taking emergency contraception is not intended to replace regular, ongoing contraception, and it is worth using the experience as an opportunity to review your regular contraceptive plan if you do not currently have one, or if your current method has let you down. Our pharmacy team can talk through the range of ongoing contraceptive options available, including methods that do not rely on remembering a daily pill, which some people find more reliable for their lifestyle.

If you have needed emergency contraception more than once within a relatively short period, this is also worth discussing openly with a pharmacist or GP, since it may be a sign that your current approach to contraception is not working as well as it could for your circumstances, rather than something to feel embarrassed about raising.

Longer-acting reversible contraceptive methods, such as the contraceptive implant, injection, or intrauterine devices, are worth considering if you find yourself relying on emergency contraception more often than you would like. These methods remove the need to remember daily action, which some people find considerably more reliable and less stressful than methods requiring consistent daily attention, though the right choice always depends on your individual health, preferences, and circumstances.

Getting Emergency Contraception from Newington Pharmacy

At Newington Pharmacy, we offer confidential access to ellaOne tablets and Levonelle, ensuring you receive the right emergency contraception when you need it. Our knowledgeable team is always available to provide expert guidance, helping you make an informed choice based on your circumstances, including timing, medical history, and any other relevant factors.

We understand that seeking emergency contraception can sometimes feel overwhelming, whether due to the situation itself or simply the time pressure involved. That’s why we strive to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible, offering discreet support in a professional and welcoming environment, without judgement, at every stage.

If you need ellaOne tablets or Levonelle, visit Newington Pharmacy today for fast, reliable service and expert advice, delivered with the confidentiality and understanding this situation deserves.  Call our team today to find out more.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few questions come up again and again when people are considering emergency contraception, so we’ve answered the most common ones below.

Need Help? Speak to Our Pharmacists

If you have any concerns about emergency contraception or need guidance on your next steps, our friendly pharmacists are here to help.  Whether you have questions about timing, side effects, interactions with other medications, or simply want to understand your options fully before deciding, we are here to support you.

Book now at Newington Pharmacy for confidential advice and support whenever you need it.