Emergency contraception guidance
EC is used in the following situations after sexual intercourse:
Unprotected intercourse¹
Failure of contraception (e.g. condom breakage, missed pills)¹
Incorrect contraceptive use¹
Sexual assault without protection¹
Levonorgestrel 0,75 mg (2 tablets)¹
Levonorgestrel 1,5 mg (1 tablet)¹
Ulipristal acetate 30 mg (1 tablet)¹
THE 3 STAGES OF CONCEPTION²
Levonorgestrel prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation (the release of a mature egg cell), thereby preventing fertilisation (when the sperm cell meets and fertilises the egg cell). Levonorgestrel is effective only when taken BEFORE ovulation. Thus, pregnancy is prevented prior to fertilisation rather than after it has occurred²⸴³.
Levonorgestrel works up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sexual intercourse⁴.
Levonorgestrel tablets are available as:
Levonorgestrel 0,75 mg (2 tablets)¹
Levonorgestrel 1,5 mg (1 tablet)¹
Ulipristal acetate prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation (the release of a mature egg cell), thereby preventing fertilisation (when the sperm cell meets and fertilises the egg cell). Ulipristal acetate is effective only when taken BEFORE ovulation. Thus, pregnancy is prevented prior to fertilisation rather than after it has occurred⁴. Ulipristal acetate works up to right before ovulation occurs (when the luteinizing hormone level starts to rise, but before it reaches its peak and ovulation occurs)⁶.
Ulipristal acetate works up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sexual intercourse⁴.
Sperm cells can survive in the female reproductive tract for up to 5 days. Therefore, by delaying ovulation up to 5 days, ulipristal acetate ensures no viable sperm cells remain to fertilise an egg cell⁵.
Ulipristal acetate is available as:
Ulipristal acetate 30 mg (1 tablet)¹
As soon as possible after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure¹. Refer to the approved Patient Information Leaflet for dosing instructions.
References and Legals
For full prescribing information, refer to the Professional Information approved by the medicines regulatory authority.
1. World Health Organization. Emergency contraception. World Health Organization (WHO) (2021). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/emergency-contraception
2. Cleveland Clinic. Conception. Cleveland Clinic, accessed 10 November 2025, available from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11585-conception.
3. Endler, M. et al. Effect of levonorgestrel emergency contraception on implantation and fertility: A review. Contraception 109, 8-18 (2022).
4. Glasier, A.F., et al. Ulipristal acetate versus levonorgestrel for emergency contraception: a randomised non-inferiority trial and meta-analysis. The Lancet 375, 555-562 (2010).
5. Miech, R.P. Immunopharmacology of ulipristal as an emergency contraceptive. International Journal of Women’s Health 3, 391-397 (2011).
6. Brache, V., et al. Ulipristal acetate prevents ovulation more effectively than levonorgestrel: analysis of pooled data from three randomized trials of emergency contraception regimens. Contraception 88, 611-618 (2013).
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