What is Levonorgestrel ?
Levonorgestrel is an emergency contraceptive that can be used after unprotected sex or where a contraceptive method has failed. This type of contraception is often called ‘the morning after pill’.
Each pack of Levonorgestrel contains a complete treatment which is one round, white tablet. The tablet contains 1500 microgram of levonorgestrel, which is the active ingredient.
Levonorgestrel also contains the inactive ingredients: povidone K-25, lactose monohydrate, maize starch, colloidal anhydrous silica and magnesium stearate.
How does the Levonorgestrel morning-after pill work?
Levonorgestrel prevents about 84% of expected pregnancies when it is taken within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex. Levonorgestrel will not prevent a pregnancy in every instance, but the tablet is more effective the sooner after unprotected sex it is taken (it is better to take it within 12 hours rather than delay until the third day).
The Levonorgestrel morning after pill is thought to work by:
- stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg;
- preventing sperm from fertilising any egg you may have already released.
So Levonorgestrel stops pregnancy before it is established. It does not work if you are already pregnant.
Before you take Levonorgestrel .
Please talk to your pharmacist before you take this medicine because emergency contraception might not be suitable for you.
Levonorgestrel contains lactose. This should be taken into account if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars.
If you are under 16, you must visit your doctor or family planning clinic to get emergency contraception.
You can use Levonorgestrel at any time during your menstrual cycle, except if your period is late. If your period is late, you should tell your pharmacist.
Before you take this medicine, your pharmacist may check that you are not already pregnant by asking you questions about your periods or when you had sex. If you or your pharmacist think that you might already be pregnant, you will need to have a pregnancy test.