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Emergency contraception (morning after pill)

Request an emergency contraception (sometimes called the morning after pill or plan b) prescription through our simple, discreet and convenient online service. This treatment is taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. Requests approved before 4pm Mon-Fri should be available for same day collection at your local pharmacy.  

Request an emergency contraception (sometimes called the morning after pill or plan b) prescription through our simple, discreet and convenient online service. This treatment is taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. Requests approved before 4pm Mon-Fri should be available for same day collection at your local pharmacy.  

Request emergency contraception Request for future use View options

How our service works

  1. Select a medication and complete a short questionnaire.

  2. A doctor will assess your answers and, if suitable, provide a prescription.

  3. Your prescription will be sent by our doctors to your chosen pharmacy and you can pay for your treatment in-store.

Emergency contraception options

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  • ellaOne

    Can be taken within five days (120 hours) of unprotected sex 

    Most effective emergency contraceptive pill 

    ellaOne
    Strength
    Pack size

    *Our doctors will prescribe the most suitable morning after pill to you

    More information

  • Levonorgestrel (generic Prevenelle or Norlevo)

    Can be taken within three days (72 hours) of unprotected sex 

    Two tablets needed for women over 70kg or taking certain medications

    Levonorgestrel morning after pill
    Strength
    Pack size

    *Our doctors will prescribe the most suitable morning after pill to you

    More information
No matching treatments found

About emergency contraception

  • Can you buy the morning after pill online?

    You can request the morning after pill online at Lloyds Online Doctor Ireland. A visit to a doctor is not needed, but you will need to complete an online questionnaire. If the morning after pill is suitable for you, a doctor will send your prescription to your local pharmacy where you can pick it up and pay for the treatment in-store.

  • What is emergency contraception?

    Emergency contraception is the umbrella term used for treatments used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. The term unprotected sex means sex that has happened when you’ve not used contraception or your contraception has failed, for example a condom might have broken, or you’ve forgotten your pill. 

    There are two types of emergency contraceptive pill (ECP), both of which our doctors can prescribe: 

    • Levonorgestrel (sometimes known as the three-day pill, or under it’s branded names Norlevo or Prevenelle) 
    • ellaOne (sometimes knowns as the five-day pill) 

    There is also an emergency contraceptive coil (intrauterine copper device or IUCD), which you can access through your local sexual health services.  

  • How does the morning after pill work?

    Both types of ECP – ellaOne and Levonorgestrel – work in the same way. They work by preventing or delaying the ovulation (release of an egg). This means that an egg can’t meet with a sperm to be fertilised.  

  • How effective is the morning after pill?

    Depending on which ECP you take, they have different levels of effectiveness. 

    • Levonorgestrel is 99% effective when taken within 12 hours of unprotected sex, it’s then less effective on days two and three 
    • ellaOne is 99.5% effective, but the sooner you take it the more effective it is.  

  • When to take the morning after pill

    The two types of morning after pill have different windows in which you can take them in: 

    • Levonorgestrel must be taken within three days (72 hours) of unprotected sex 
    • ellaOne must be taken within five days (120 hours) of unprotected sex 

  • Can I request emergency contraception in case I need it in the future?

    If you think there’s a chance you might have unprotected sex and you don’t want to run the risk of getting pregnant, you can request the morning after pill for future use. If you’re doing this and using our service, simply let us know when you’re answering the questions in the online consultation.  

    While it can be useful having the morning after pill to hand, straight after unprotected sex, you shouldn’t use the morning after pill as a form of routine contraception.  

  • Why might I be asked to take two pills instead of one?

    If our doctors prescribe you Levonorgestrel, you might be prescribed two pills instead of one. Most women will be prescribed the standard dose of 1.5 milligrams, but if you weigh over 70kg, have a BMI of over 26 or taking certain medications, you might be prescribed 3 milligrams.

    If you’re sick within three hours of taking the morning after pill, you also might be asked to take another dose. If you are sick, please send us a message through your Patient Record, speak to your pharmacist or a GP.  

  • Will I experience any side effects if I take emergency contraception?

    Like all treatments, some people might experience side effects when taking the ECP. Some women might feel sick, dizzy or tired, others might get headaches, sore breasts, period-type pain or diarrhoea. Usually, these kinds of symptoms will pass in a day or two.

    Some women might also experience changes to their period, you might get some bleeding before your period is due, or it might come earlier or late. If your period is more than a week late, it’s best to take a pregnancy test, as there might be a chance the ECP hasn’t worked.  

  • Will taking emergency contraception help prevent pregnancies in the future?

    No, morning after pills only protect you after unprotected sex. But the emergency contraceptive coil would protect you form getting pregnant for up to 10 years.

    If you’re looking for advice around routine contraception, please visit our contraception service. 

  • Does the morning after pill protect me against STIs?

    No, no form of emergency contraception protects you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). So if you have had unprotected sex, we would recommend taking an STI test. Our doctors recommend getting tested regular, either once a year or when you change sexual partners.  

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