What is Levonelle One Step

Levonelle One Step is an emergency contraceptive that can be used within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex or if your usual contraceptive method has failed.

Levonelle One Step contains a synthetic hormone-like substance called levonorgestrel. It prevents about 84% of expected pregnancies when you take it within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. It will not prevent a pregnancy every time and is more effective if you take it as soon as possible after unprotected sex. It is better to take it within 12 hours rather than delay it until the third day.

Levonelle One Step is thought to work by:

• stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg;
• preventing sperm from fertilising any egg you may have already released.

Levonelle One Step can only prevent you from becoming pregnant if you take it within 72 hours of unprotected sex. It does not work if you are already pregnant. If you have unprotected sex after taking Levonelle One Step, it will not stop you from becoming pregnant.

Levonelle One Step is not indicated for use before the first menstrual bleeding (menarche).

Levonelle One Step is not recommended for young women under 16 years of age.

How to take Levonelle One Step

Use in children and adolescents

Levonelle One Step is not indicated for use before the first menstrual bleeding (menarche).

Take the tablet as soon as possible, preferably within 12 hours, and no later than 72 hours (3 days) after you have had unprotected sex. Do not delay taking the tablet. The tablet works best the sooner you take it after having unprotected sex. It can only prevent you from becoming pregnant if you take it within 72 hours of unprotected sex.

Levonelle One Step can be taken at any time in your menstrual cycle, assuming you are not already pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Do not chew but swallow the tablet whole with water.

• If you are using one of the medicines that may prevent Levonelle One Step from working properly (see section above “Other medicines and Levonelle One Step”) or if you have used one of these medicines in the past 4 weeks, Levonelle One Step may work less effectively for you. Your doctor may prescribe another type of (non-hormonal) emergency contraceptive, i.e. a copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD). If this is not an option for you or if you cannot see your doctor promptly, you can take a double dose of Levonelle One Step (i.e. 2 tablets taken together at the same time).
• If you are already using a regular method of contraception such as the contraceptive pill, you can continue to take this at your regular times.

If another unprotected intercourse takes place after the use of Levonelle One Step (also if this is during the same menstrual cycle), the tablet will not exert its contraceptive effect, and there is again the risk of pregnancy.

What to do if you are sick (vomit)

If you are sick (vomit) within three hours of taking the tablet, you should take another tablet. You will need to contact your pharmacist, doctor, practice nurse or family planning clinic immediately for one more tablet.

After you have taken Levonelle One Step

After taking Levonelle One Step, if you want to have sex and are not using the contraceptive pill, you should use condoms or a cap plus spermicide until your next menstrual period. This is because Levonelle One Step won’t work if you have unprotected sex again before your next period is due.

After taking Levonelle One Step, you are advised to make an appointment to see your doctor about three weeks later to make sure that Levonelle One Step has worked. If your period is more than 5 days late or is unusually light or unusually heavy, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. If you become pregnant even after taking this medicine, you must see your doctor.

Your doctor can also tell you about longer-term methods of contraception that are more effective in preventing you from getting pregnant.

If you continue to use regular hormonal contraception such as the contraceptive pill and do not bleed in your pill-free period, see your doctor make sure you are not pregnant.

Your next period after you took Levonelle One Step

After using Levonelle One Step, your period is usually normal and will start on a usual day; however, sometimes, this will be a few days later or earlier. If your period starts more than 5 days later than expected, ‘abnormal’ bleeding occurs at that time, or if you think you might be pregnant, you should check whether you are pregnant by a pregnancy test.

If you take more Levonelle One Step than you should

Although there have been no reports of serious harmful effects from taking too many tablets at once, you may feel sick, actually, be sick (vomit), or have vaginal bleeding. You should ask your pharmacist, doctor, practice nurse or family planning clinic for advice, especially if you have been sick, as the tablet may not have worked properly.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

What does Levonelle One Step contain

The active substance is levonorgestrel. One tablet contains 1500 micrograms of levonorgestrel.

The other ingredients are potato starch, maize starch, colloidal silica anhydrous, magnesium stearate, talc, lactose monohydrate.