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Sperm can survive inside the body for up to five days. The morning after pill only provides the most powerful protection for up to three to five days post-sex. Having unprotected sex after taking your contraception means the sperm may outlast the medicine’s most effective window, and this may lead to pregnancy.
The morning after pill is a type of emergency contraception. If you’ve had unprotected sex, the morning after pill can be taken to prevent pregnancy.
While it’s more common to visit the pharmacist as and when the contraceptive pill is needed, it’s also possible to get the morning after pill in advance so you have a supply on hand for emergencies. This is particularly useful if:
At The Independent Pharmacy, we offer two types of emergency contraception: EllaOne and Levonorgestrel, both of which are available with discreet delivery and only require a short online consultation before purchase.
A GP or sexual health/contraception clinic should be able to provide you with the morning after pill in advance. To find the nearest service to you, use the NHS website.
If you’d prefer to have your contraception delivered straight to your door, The Independent Pharmacy offers:
EllaOne — the newest emergency contraceptive tablet available over-the-counter from pharmacies, without the need for a prescription. It can be taken up to 120 hours (five days) to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if there has been a contraceptive failure, such as a split condom. EllaOne is thought to remain up to 98% effective, even after up to five days.
Levonorgestrel (generic Levonelle) — Levonelle is the original 'morning-after pill' that can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. It is now available as the generic drug Levonorgestrel 1.5mg. It is a single dose, a hormonal emergency contraceptive tablet that can be purchased online as an advanced supply for women to keep on hand in case of a contraceptive accident or failure.
To ensure your morning after pill is as effective as possible, you must take it as soon as possible. With each day that passes, the medication is less likely to prevent pregnancy. However, this period varies between contraceptive types:
Levonorgestrel:
EllaOne:
The morning after pill shouldn't be used as a normal contraceptive. It’s designed for one-off use when your contraception fails (e.g. the condom breaks) or you have unprotected sex. It’s also important to remember that emergency contraception won’t protect you from STIs or STDs, either.
The morning after pill can be taken more than once during a menstrual cycle. However, they’re less effective than standard contraception, so where possible, it’s best to rely on alternative contraceptive methods.
There are plenty of alternatives to the morning after pill. Some may only prevent pregnancy, while others protect against STIs and STDs also. Contraceptive alternatives include:
For more information on contraception, check out our contraception advice page.
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