What about side effects?

You may feel sick for a short while after taking Levonelle One Step® or have a headache, but most women do not experience many side effects. Levonelle One Step® is the latest emergency contraceptive pill and because it contains only one hormone, progestogen, it is much less likely to make you feel unwell than earlier versions of the morning after pill.

As well as being easier to tolerate than earlier pills, it is also thought to be more effective at preventing pregnancy.

Some women do have side effects after taking emergency contraceptive pills such as breast tenderness, headaches, stomach pains, diarrhoea, feeling dizzy or feeling tired. These symptoms are usually minor and should get better after a few days. If you are worried, phone your pharmacist or speak to the doctor or nurse where you were given Levonelle One Step® or go to Advice and Support.

Sickness

After taking the emergency contraceptive pill, a few women (approximately 1 out of 100) will be sick (vomit). If you are sick within 3 hours of taking Levonelle One Step®, you need to go back to your pharmacist, doctor or family planning clinic for another packet and take the tablet again. If you are sick more than three hours after you originally took the tablet, you do not need to take Levonelle One Step® again.

You may feel sick or nauseous after taking Levonelle One Step®. If you do feel sick, you should take it easy and rest.  If the feelings persist, you should contact your doctor or family planning clinic. 

Changes to periods

Most women will have their period at the usual time, but your period can also come earlier or later than usual. You might also have some irregular bleeding or spotting until your next period.

Spotting or irregular bleeding before your next period

There is no need to worry, this is not a sign that anything is wrong. It is just the effect of the hormone on your body.

More than 5 days late

A few women who take the emergency contraceptive pill will have their period more than 5 days late. If this happens to you and you are worried while you are waiting, go to your doctor or clinic for a pregnancy test. If the test is positive and you don't want to be pregnant, get advice from your doctor as soon as possible.

Late period and pain

If your period is overdue, and you have pain, contact your doctor or clinic as soon as possible.

If you do get pregnant after taking Levonelle One Step® your doctor may wish to check for an ectopic pregnancy.

The symptoms are:

• Sudden or unusual pain in the lower abdomen
• An unusually light or late period