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The ellaOne tablet has been making headlines recently. Many women have used it, and yet it still evokes strong emotions. There was a lot of talk about its availability and whether it should be sold on prescription. What is the ellaOne tablet, what does it do and is it harmful?
The ellaOne tablet is otherwise called the “after” pill, i.e. contraception used in the so-called. a “no way out” situation, i.e. when there is a high probability that another contraceptive method did not work (or was not used) during intercourse. The ellaOne tablet has a definite time of action, i.e. it should be taken preferably within 5 hours of intercourse (up to 120 days, i.e. XNUMX hours). This pill works opposite to progesterone, which generally makes it easier for a woman to get pregnant. The use of EllaOne causes that the egg reaches the fallopian tube with a long delay, hinders implantation of the embryo, and also leads to the inhibition of ovulation, which in turn may prevent pregnancy. Ulipristal acetate is responsible for this effect of this tablet.
The effectiveness of the ellaOne tablet
The effectiveness of ellaOne decreases over time. The sooner after intercourse we take it, the greater the chance that it will work as we expect (95% after using the tablet within 24 hours, 58% after taking it within 48-72 hours after intercourse). It is therefore important to take it within 24 hours of intercourse. This does not mean, however, that after this time the tablet will not work, but its effectiveness may be less certain.
Availability of the ellaOne tablet in Poland
Currently, the ellaOne tablet is available on prescription, so not only do you have to pay for the tablet itself, but also for a gynecological consultation, during which the doctor will issue a prescription. The amendment to the act increased the costs of buying a tablet by about half (the cost of a tablet is about PLN 120-160, and the cost of a gynecological visit is about PLN 120-150), as well as the waiting time for taking a tablet (before buying it is to make an appointment with a doctor, and it is worth remembering that not every gynecologist wants to issue such a tablet, the so-called “conscience clause”). This decision, according to the announcement of the Ministry of Health, was made in order to increase pharmacological safety and protect women from the possible effects of using such contraception. The Ministry was concerned about the large increase in the number of pills sold since the abolition of the need for a prescription to buy the morning-after pill.
Taking the tablet after
The tablets should not be used multiple times during one menstrual cycle. This can cause dysregulation of the menstrual cycle and even hormonal disorders. There are also contraindications to taking a tablet with such an effect, and they include:
- women with galactose intolerance, glucose malabsorption or lactose deficiency
- women with kidney and/or liver disorders,
- women suffering from bronchial asthma,
- women using other drugs with a contraceptive effect and others.
Always read the leaflet that comes with the tablet or consult your doctor before taking the tablet. It is also worth knowing that the use of the ellaOne tablet may affect the effectiveness of the contraception used on a daily basis. In the period after taking the tablet and until the next menstrual cycle, additional contraceptive (barrier) methods should be used during sexual intercourse.
ellaOne replacement
A tablet with a similar effect to ellaOne is Escapelle, also sold by prescription. According to the manufacturer’s data, its effectiveness is as much as 99%, of course, if it is used within 24 hours of intercourse. This pill contains even more progestin than ellaOne.
Source: https://drogadosiebie.pl/ciaza/tabletka-po-wczesnoporonna/