Morning After Pills

Same active ingredient, same total dose, same effectiveness. The single-tablet option (Tansy One) is more convenient as it requires only one dose with no need to remember a second tablet. Postinor (two tablets) is a well-known traditional brand. Choose based on convenience.

No. Emergency contraception works by preventing or delaying ovulation. It does not terminate an existing pregnancy. If pregnancy has already been established, the medication will have no effect and will not harm the foetus.

Emergency contraception commonly causes your period to shift — either earlier or later than expected. However, if your period doesn't arrive within 3 weeks of taking the medication, take a pregnancy test to be sure.

No. There is no evidence that emergency contraception affects future fertility. Reproductive function returns to normal immediately after the medication wears off. However, frequent use is not recommended because it's far less effective than daily contraception.

Effectiveness drops significantly after 72 hours. Some research suggests limited benefit up to 120 hours (5 days), but this is unreliable. If more than 72 hours have passed, consult a pharmacist about alternative options.

Yes. Levonorgestrel emergency contraception is safe during breastfeeding. It does not affect milk supply or harm the baby.

Emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is a hormonal medication used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.

The active ingredient is Levonorgestrel, a synthetic progestin hormone. It works by:

🔬 Mechanism of action — Inhibiting or delaying ovulation, so there is no egg available for fertilisation / thickening cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach the egg

Important to understand: Emergency contraception is not an abortion pill. If an egg has already been fertilised and implanted in the uterus, the medication will have no effect on the existing pregnancy.

At Intimo Life, we offer two formats. Both contain the same active ingredient (Levonorgestrel) at the same total dose.

Tansy One — Single-tablet emergency contraception

• Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg — full dose in one tablet
• Take once and done — no need for a second dose
• Maximum convenience — no risk of forgetting the second tablet
• Ideal if you want simplicity

Postinor — Two-tablet emergency contraception

• Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg per tablet (2 tablets = 1.5 mg total — same dose)
• Take the first tablet immediately, followed by the second 12 hours later
• Well-known brand with a long track record

Bottom line: Same drug, same total dose, same effectiveness. The single-tablet option is more convenient as it requires only one dose.

At Intimo Life we stock two regulator-approved Levonorgestrel options.

• Tansy One — Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg, single tablet, one dose, within 72 hours
• Postinor — Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg, 2 tablets, first now and second after 12 hours, within 72 hours
• Madonna / Lady (reference formula) — Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg, single tablet, within 72 hours
• Ulipristal acetate (ella) — Ulipristal 30 mg, single tablet, within 120 hours, prescription only

Tansy One and Postinor deliver equivalent total Levonorgestrel and equivalent effectiveness per WHO data. Choose Tansy One for single-dose simplicity, or Postinor if you prefer the long-established two-tablet routine.

⏰ The sooner, the better — this is the most important rule.

📊 Effectiveness by time

• Within 24 hours — reduces pregnancy risk by 95%
• Within 24-48 hours — reduces pregnancy risk by 85%
• Within 48-72 hours — reduces pregnancy risk by 58%
• After 72 hours — effectiveness drops significantly; not recommended

Don't wait. Take it as soon as possible — you don't need to wait until morning, and you don't need to take it on an empty stomach. Any time is fine.

Levonorgestrel emergency contraception effectiveness decreases with time. Sooner is better. Figures cited from WHO and NHS.

• Within 12 hours — about 95% pregnancy prevention (peak effectiveness)
• 12-24 hours — still around 95%
• 24-48 hours — drops to about 85%
• 48-72 hours — drops to about 58%
• 72-120 hours — Levonorgestrel not recommended; switch to Ulipristal acetate (ella), prescription only

Emergency contraception is not a 100% guarantee. Even within 12 hours there is roughly a 1 in 20 chance of pregnancy. If your period is more than 7 days late, take a pregnancy test. If you vomit within 2 hours of taking the pill, take another full dose.

Emergency contraception is designed for these situations.

🔴 When to use — Unprotected sex with no contraception used / condom broke or slipped during sex / missed 2 or more daily contraceptive pills / miscalculated the safe period / sexual assault (additional support should be sought in this case)

❌ What emergency contraception doesn't do — It does not prevent sexually transmitted infections / it is not an abortion pill / it is not a substitute for regular contraception

Emergency contraception has a very strong safety profile. Side effects are usually mild and resolve within 1-2 days.

Common side effects — Nausea (most common, approximately 15-20%) / vomiting (if you vomit within 2 hours of taking the pill, you need a replacement dose) / headache / fatigue / breast tenderness / lower abdominal pain

Effect on your period — Your next period may come earlier, later, or be different from normal / if your period doesn't arrive within 3 weeks of taking emergency contraception, take a pregnancy test

✅ Safe — Emergency contraception has an excellent safety profile. It has fewer medical contraindications than many daily contraceptive pills. It can be used more than once in the same menstrual cycle if necessary.

⚠️ But it shouldn't be used regularly because:

• It's far less effective than daily contraception (99%+ for daily pills vs 58-95% for emergency contraception depending on timing)
• Frequent use disrupts menstrual cycles
• More expensive per month than daily contraception
• Doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections

If you find yourself needing emergency contraception frequently, it's a clear sign you should switch to daily contraception. Consult a pharmacist for the best option.

If you vomit within 2 hours of taking the pill, the medication may not have been fully absorbed. You need to take a replacement dose.

💡 Tips to reduce nausea — Take the pill with a small amount of food / take an anti-nausea medication 30 minutes before if available / the single-tablet option (Tansy One) may be preferable as it requires only one dose, reducing the chance of repeat vomiting

Emergency contraception — Used "after" sex / emergency situations only / 58-95% effective depending on timing / does not protect for future encounters / higher hormone dose for rapid single-dose action

Daily contraceptive pills — Used "before" sex, taken every day / 99%+ effective when taken consistently / provides continuous protection / lower hormone dose as it builds up daily / multiple brands available for different needs

For reliable ongoing contraception, daily pills are far more effective than relying on emergency contraception.

Important steps after taking emergency contraception:

📅 Track your period — If it doesn't arrive within 3 weeks, take a pregnancy test.

🔒 Use protection for subsequent encounters — Emergency contraception only covers the previous encounter. Future sexual activity requires separate protection (condoms or contraceptive pills).

💊 Consider switching to daily contraception — If you're sexually active regularly, daily pills offer much better protection and are more cost-effective. Consult a pharmacist — you can start daily pills immediately after taking emergency contraception.

Contraindications — There are no absolute medical contraindications for Levonorgestrel emergency contraception. Even women who cannot use combined hormonal contraception (such as those with migraine with aura or a history of blood clots) can safely use Levonorgestrel emergency contraception.

Special situations

• Higher body weight — Effectiveness may be slightly reduced in women over 70 kg, but it is still recommended for use
• Breastfeeding — Safe to use; does not affect milk supply or harm the baby
• Repeat use in the same cycle — Possible if necessary, but transitioning to daily contraception is strongly recommended