Your Guide to emergency contraception
Emergency contraception allows you to prevent pregnancy if you have had unprotected sex or are concerned that your birth control may have failed - for example if a condom broke during intercourse or you are using the birth control pill but have been vomiting.

Emergency contraception works by stopping or delaying ovulation, preventing an egg that has already been released from being fertilised, or preventing a fertilised egg from implanting in the uterus.

There are two kinds of emergency contraception: 1) Hormonal i.e. the morning-after pill or 'Plan B' Hormonal emergency contraception is a single pill. Levonelle, which contains progesterone, can be taken up to three days after unprotected sex. ellaOne, which contains ulipristal acetate, can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex. Levonelle is most effective the sooner it is taken - it is 95% effective if taken up to 24 hours after unprotected sex but drops to 58% effectiveness at 72 hours after unprotected sex. ellaOne is almost 98% effective at preventing pregnancy if taken in the first 120 hours after unprotected sex.

2) The Copper IUD (intra-uterine device) If you have only had unprotected sex once since your last period you can have an IUD fitted at any time up to five days from when you had unprotected sex. However, if this is not the first time since your last period, an IUD can be fitted within five days of the earliest day you could have ovulated. With 99% effectiveness, a copper IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception. The IUD can be left in to provide ongoing contraception or it can be removed at your next period. You may not be able to have an IUD fitted, for example if you have an STI that requires treatment.