How do I take ellaOne?
You take ellaOne in the form of a single tablet, up to 5 days after having unprotected sex. The sooner you take it the more effective it is. If vomiting occurs within three hours of taking a tablet the dose should be repeated.
Cautions
ellaOne only helps to prevent pregnancy not STI's. It should not be used as a contraceptive method as it is intended for one-off use. After taking ellaOne, you should not take it again during the same menstrual cycle. If you are taking the contraceptive pill you should continue taking it as normal but also use barrier methods (such as condoms) until your next period, as ellaOne can disrupt the contraceptive pill.
ellaOne is slightly more effective than Levonelle especially in women who are over weight. If your BMI is over 30 you should take ellaOne rather than Levonelle.
If vomiting occurs within three hours of taking a tablet the dose should be repeated.
Periods may come early or be delayed after taking a morning after pill. If a period is more than 5 days late a pregnancy test is required.
Our Clinical Authors
Written by
Omar El-Gohary
CEO & Superintendent Pharmacist | GPhC Registration: 2059792
Medically reviewed by
Jabbar Ali
MPharm Clinical Lead | GPhC Registration: 2205490
This page has been written by a registered UK pharmacist and reviewed by our clinical team to ensure it is accurate, clear and reflects current clinical guidance.
Last medically reviewed: 20 August 2026
Last updated: 21 August 2026