How quickly do I need to take it?

You have to take Levonelle One Step® emergency contraceptive pills within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. There is 1 tablet in the pack. The sooner you take it, the more likely it is to work.  Ideally, you should try to take the tablet within 24 hours as this is when it is most effective.

This is a guide to the effectiveness of  Levonelle One Step®, depending on how many hours have passed since you had unprotected sex.

• Within 24 hrs - 95%
• Between 25-48 hrs - 85%
• Between 49-72 hrs - 58%

If you're worried about the possibility of an unplanned pregnancy, it's important to act now rather than waiting till later.

If it's more than 72 hours (3 days) since you had unprotected sex but less than 120 hours (5 days) find out about the IUD here, which is an alternative method of emergency contraception.