ellaOne

Price range: £21.99 through £39.99

“Morning After Pill”
Effective for up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex
Contains Ulipristal acetate

Select option

Clear

Treatment: Morning After Pill

SKU: 16098411000001108 Category: Morning after pill (treatment)

Order ellaOne Morning After Pill Online

Reviewed by Clinical Pharmacist – Hywel McGlinchy

You can request to buy the ellaOne morning after pill online from Reach Online Pharmacy, a UK-registered online pharmacy and doctor service. The price includes any prescription fees, and next working day delivery options are available. Simply complete our short online questionnaire as part of your order, and one of our prescribers will review your request before dispatch.

What is ellaOne?

ellaOne is an emergency contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy when taken within 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex or if your usual contraceptive method has failed (for example, a split condom or missed pill).

ellaOne contains the active ingredient ulipristal acetate, which works by preventing or delaying ovulation. Another emergency contraceptive option is Levonelle, which contains levonorgestrel and must be taken within 72 hours (3 days).

When to Take ellaOne

ellaOne must be taken as soon as possible and within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure to be effective. It can be taken at any time during your menstrual cycle.

How to Take ellaOne

Take the tablet as soon as possible after unprotected sex.

It can be taken before, during or after a meal.
Swallow the tablet whole with water.
If you vomit within three hours of taking it, another tablet will be required.

How Effective is ellaOne?

ellaOne is the most effective oral emergency contraceptive pill available in the UK.

It works for up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex.
Studies show it remains consistently effective across this time period.
It is significantly more effective than Levonelle when taken between 0–120 hours after unprotected sex.

About 1–2% of women who take ellaOne after unprotected sex may still become pregnant. Remember, it will not prevent pregnancy from further unprotected sex later in the same menstrual cycle.

How Does ellaOne Work?

The hormone progesterone naturally triggers ovulation (the release of an egg). ellaOne contains ulipristal acetate, which blocks the effects of progesterone, delaying or preventing ovulation. If ovulation has already occurred, ellaOne is unlikely to be effective.

If unprotected sex has already happened earlier in your cycle and you may be pregnant, ellaOne will not work. Please mention this when completing your online consultation.

Who Can Take ellaOne?

Most women can safely take ellaOne.
However, do not take ellaOne if you:

Are allergic to ulipristal acetate or any of its ingredients.
Have severe liver disease.
Are using certain medicines that may reduce its effectiveness (see below).

ellaOne may also be unsuitable if you take steroid tablets for severe asthma.

Taking Other Medicines

When completing your online consultation, please list all medicines you are currently taking.

Some medicines can reduce the effectiveness of ellaOne, including:

Barbiturates or other epilepsy medicines such as carbamazepine or primidone.
St John’s Wort (herbal remedy).
Some treatments for HIV and tuberculosis.
The antifungal medicine griseofulvin.

If any of these apply, an intrauterine device (IUD) may be a more suitable emergency contraception option.

EllaOne and Regular Contraception

You should wait 5 days after taking ellaOne before starting or restarting any hormonal contraception, such as the combined pill, mini pill, patch or ring.

During this time, and until your regular contraception is effective again, you must:

Use condoms during sex, or
Avoid unprotected sex altogether.

Breastfeeding After Taking ellaOne

Small amounts of ulipristal acetate may pass into breast milk. To reduce exposure to your baby, avoid breastfeeding for one week after taking ellaOne. During this period, discard any expressed milk.

Side Effects of ellaOne

Like all medicines, ellaOne can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them.

Common side effects include:

Nausea or feeling sick
Headache
Pelvic or stomach pain
Breast tenderness
Dizziness or tiredness

If you vomit within three hours of taking ellaOne, take another dose as soon as possible.

Your next period may arrive later than expected. If it is more than 7 days late, unusually light, or heavy, take a pregnancy test and speak to a healthcare professional.

Bleeding After Taking ellaOne

Some women experience light spotting or bleeding after taking the pill, lasting around 1–2 days. This is normal and not usually a cause for concern.

Fertility After Taking ellaOne

ellaOne will not affect your long-term fertility. You can become pregnant again as soon as ovulation resumes, so it’s important to use effective contraception after taking it.

Does ellaOne Protect Against STIs?

No. ellaOne does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Using condoms is the best way to reduce your risk of infection.

EllaOne Alternatives

Other emergency contraception options include:

Levonelle (Levonorgestrel) – effective for up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.
Copper IUD (coil) – the most effective emergency contraceptive method, usable up to 5 days after unprotected sex and can be left in for long-term contraception.

You can buy Levonelle and other emergency contraception options safely online from Reach Online Pharmacy.

Where to Buy ellaOne Online

You can purchase ellaOne securely from Reach Online Pharmacy without the need for a face-to-face appointment.
Simply complete our quick online consultation, and if approved by our UK-registered prescriber, our pharmacy team will dispense and dispatch your order via Royal Mail.
Next working day delivery options are available across the UK.

What happens if I vomit after taking ellaOne?

If you vomit within three hours of taking ellaOne, the medicine may not have been fully absorbed. In this case, another tablet will need to be taken as soon as possible. You should contact a pharmacist or doctor for advice on obtaining a replacement dose.

Does ellaOne work if I’m mid-cycle?

You are generally most fertile around the middle of your menstrual cycle, usually between days 10 and 16, depending on your normal cycle length.

Research suggests that ellaOne may be less effective if you have unprotected sex mid-cycle, as ovulation may have already occurred. Once the egg has been released, ellaOne cannot prevent fertilisation. It can still be taken, but your doctor or pharmacist may recommend having an intrauterine device (IUD) fitted as an additional or alternative emergency contraceptive method.

How do I take ellaOne?

Swallow one ellaOne tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not chew or crush the tablet. It should be taken as soon as possible and within 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.

How long does ellaOne stay in your system?

ellaOne is quickly absorbed into your body, but it can take several days to be completely cleared. Small amounts may be present in breast milk for up to 5 days after taking the tablet. If you are breastfeeding, it is recommended to avoid breastfeeding for one week after taking ellaOne and discard any expressed milk during this time.

Treatment Comparison

	Levonelle	EllaOne
Effective up to	72 hours after sex	120 hours after sex
Effectiveness	96-99% if taken within 24 hours	98-99%
Affected by BMI?	BMI over 26	BMI over 30
Mechanism of Action	Stops ovulation	Stops ovulation

Please read the patient information leaflet before using this medication

ellaOne PIL

⚠️ Warnings and Precautions

Before taking ellaOne (Ulipristal acetate), please read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) carefully and follow all medical advice provided by your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take ellaOne if:

You are allergic to ulipristal acetate or any of the other ingredients in this medicine.
You are already pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
You have a severe liver condition.
You are taking medicines that may reduce the effectiveness of ellaOne (see below).

If any of the above apply, speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking this medication.

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking ellaOne if:

You have severe asthma and are taking steroid tablets to manage your symptoms.
You have had an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that develops outside the womb).
You have experienced inflammation of the fallopian tubes (salpingitis).
You suffer from a digestive disorder, such as Crohn’s disease, that may reduce the absorption of oral medicines.
You are taking regular medication for epilepsy, tuberculosis, HIV, or fungal infections, or using herbal remedies such as St John’s Wort. These can make ellaOne less effective.

In these situations, your healthcare professional may recommend an intrauterine device (IUD) as a more suitable form of emergency contraception.

Important information:

ellaOne is intended for emergency use only and should not be used as a regular method of contraception.
If you vomit within three hours of taking the tablet, another dose will need to be taken as soon as possible.
If your period is more than seven days late, unusually light, or heavy, you should take a pregnancy test.
ellaOne does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — condoms are the only method that can reduce the risk of STIs.
If you have unprotected sex again after taking ellaOne, it will not prevent pregnancy from that instance of intercourse.
Repeated use within the same menstrual cycle is not recommended, as the safety and effectiveness of doing so have not been established.

Driving and operating machinery:

ellaOne may cause dizziness or tiredness in some people. If affected, do not drive or operate machinery until you feel well again.

Fertility and ongoing contraception:

ellaOne will not affect your long-term fertility. You can become pregnant again as soon as ovulation resumes, so you should start or continue a reliable form of contraception after taking it.

You must wait five days after taking ellaOne before starting or restarting hormonal contraception (e.g. the pill, patch, or ring). During this time, and until your usual contraception becomes effective again, use condoms or avoid unprotected sex.