The morning after pill is available without prescription
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Morning After Pill Services
The morning after pill is an emergency contraceptive medication that can help to prevent pregnancy up to 72 hours after having sex. It works by delaying the hormone that triggers ovulation.
Accidents can happen even when we are being careful, condoms break or pills are forgotten, but don’t worry, we can help. We offer a completely confidential, non-judgmental space for those wishing to avail of the morning after pill following a quick consultation.
Simply complete the online Consultation Form to determine your suitability for the service, pay online then collect instore.
How will ellaOne® be supplied?
A consultation form must be completed in advance of purchase, this form will assess your suitability for the morning after pill.
If you meet all medical criteria, you will be allowed to order, make payment and select an O’Sullivans Pharmacy from which to collect your purchase.
Upon arrival, please proceed to the dispensary counter to collect your order, you will be met by a pharmacist who will have your completed consultation form and medication ready.
A brief consultation with the pharmacist will be done in a private consultation room, this will give you the opportunity to ask the pharmacist any questions you may have and sign your completed form.
Patients are asked to provide a telephone contact number during the online purchase process, this means should a pharmacist wish to query a potential issue, it is done prior to your arrival to collect your purchase, making the consultation process much faster and more convenient for you.
FAQs
How does the morning after pill work?
The morning after pill works by preventing or delaying ovulation (egg release). This means that after unprotected sex, all the sperm find they have no egg to fertilise and nowhere to go.
What happens when you take the morning after pill?
The morning after pill works by delaying ovulation. By doing this, it means that the sperm have nothing to fertilise so no pregnancy can begin. Unfortunately, if you have already ovulated, then the morning after pill won’t be effective. However, ovulation can be difficult to pinpoint and can vary from month to month.
Some people worry about the side effects of the morning after pill, but most people will only experience mild side effects – if they experience any at all. If there was any reason for the pharmacist to be concerned about you taking the morning after pill (for example, if you were allergic to any of the ingredients) then they would not give it to you.
There are some side effects to watch out for. A small number of women may be sick (vomit) after taking the morning after pill. If this happens within three hours of taking it, then you will need to take another pill as it may be that not enough of the pill has been absorbed to work. Your pharmacist can help advise you.
Taking the morning after pill can also affect your next period: making it a few days earlier or later, or lighter or heavier than usual. This is totally normal. However, if your period is more than 7 days late, then you might want to take a pregnancy test.
There is no evidence that ellaOne® has any effect on future fertility and your chance to have children in the future. In fact, fertility generally returns so quickly after taking ellaOne® that we recommend using a condom until your next period, even if you are using another method of contraception like the pill.
Who can take the morning after pill?
Most people can take the morning after pill without any complications. The consultation you have with the pharmacist will determine whether the morning after pill is suitable for you.
If there is a chance you are already pregnant, a healthcare professional will want you to take a pregnancy test to make sure you are not already pregnant, before giving you the morning after pill.
If you are breastfeeding you will have the choice to take the morning after pill, but with ellaOne® you should not breastfeed for one week after taking it. You should instead express your milk and discard it, in order to keep stimulating lactation.
You will not be recommended the morning after pill if you are allergic to any of the ingredients, or if you are taking any medicines that could interact with the emergency contraception pill. If this is the case, you may be recommended to get a copper IUD inserted.
What is ellaOne®?
ellaOne® is an oral emergency contraceptive pill (also known as the morning after pill) containing ulipristal acetate. It can be bought online for collection in store.
No other morning after pill is more effective than ellaOne®. If you have had unprotected sex, taking ellaOne® can prevent unplanned pregnancy. ellaOne® can be effective for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex has taken place, but like all morning after pills it is more effective the sooner you take it.
ellaOne® is intended for use in the case of emergency it is not meant to be a replacement for a regular method of contraception.
How does ellaOne® work?
ellaOne® works by delaying ovulation so that any sperm in the female reproductive system cannot find an egg to fertilise, and so no pregnancy can occur.
When you have unprotected sex, sperm travel from the vagina, through the cervix and up the fallopian tubes where they wait for an egg. ellaOne® helps prevent or delay ovulation until all the sperm have died (5 days), so there is no egg for them to fertilise and no pregnancy can take place.
It is very important that you take ellaOne® as soon as possible after unprotected sex for it to be most effective.
If ovulation has already taken place, no morning after pill will be effective. It is very hard to know when you are ovulating as your cycle can change from month to month. By taking ellaOne® as soon as possible after unprotected sex, you reduce the risk of ovulating in that time.
How effective is ellaOne®?
No other morning after pill is more effective than ellaOne®.
In a clinical trial, ellaOne® has been shown to reduce the rate of pregnancy to just 9 in 1000 when taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex.
You can take ellaOne® up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex, but it is more effective the sooner you take it.
What to expect after taking ellaOne®?
ellaOne® is generally well tolerated but, like any medicine, some people will experience side effects after taking ellaOne®. The most common side effects typically only affect up to 1 in 10 people.
It is important to remember that ellaOne® is only effective for a specific instance of unprotected sex. Taking ellaOne® will not protect you for future occasions of unprotected sex. Your fertility will return to normal very quickly, and you should use a condom until your next period arrives, even if you are using a hormonal method of contraception like the pill.
Mild side effects may occur, but generally there is no reason that taking ellaOne® should interfere with what you had planned for that day or the evening afterwards. You can drink alcohol after using ellaOne®.
What are the side effects of ellaOne®?
Like all medicines, the morning after pill can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them, and most people will not experience any side effects at all. Your pharmacist can help you if you have any concerns.
The most common side effects (which will only affect up to 1 in 10 people) include headaches, stomach pain, breast tenderness, mood changes and feeling nauseous. For more information, please speak to your pharmacist.
How do you take ellaOne?
ellaOne® is a single pill that should be swallowed with water. You can take ellaOne® at any time of day or night.
If you vomit within three hours of taking ellaOne®, you should contact your pharmacist or GP as you may need to take another pill.
When should you take ellaOne®?
Despite the nickname ‘morning after pill’, you can use ellaOne® at any time of day or night, and it can still be effective for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex.
ellaOne® is most effective when taken within the first 24 hours after unprotected sex has taken place. ellaOne® can be taken at any time of the menstrual cycle, but if you have ovulated then it may not be effective – however this is very difficult to predict, so speak to your pharmacist who will be able to advise you further.
What age do I need to be to purchase emergency contraception?
Emergency contraception is only available for click and collect customers 18 years or over who meet the necessary medical criteria.
Emergency contraception is not available for click and collect to customers aged 16-17 years, these customers can only access emergency contraception following an instore consultation with one of our pharmacists.