Ask Ella: How do you buy the morning after pill online?

If you have experienced contraceptive failure or had unprotected sex and think you might need the morning after pill, you’ll be glad to know that it is easier than ever to get your hands on it. Nervous about asking for the morning after pill? Don’t have time to go to the pharmacy? You’re in luck: ellaOne® can be ordered online for next-day delivery.

You might be wondering if a pharmacist consultation is necessary when buying the morning after pill in person. Is it safe to buy the morning after pill online? Will a pharmacist still check to see if ellaOne® is suitable for you?

Read on and we’ll take you through the steps of ordering emergency contraception online to help you understand how the process works, as well as answer some common questions about buying the morning after pill.

You can either use ellaOneDirect (see more below) or you can try a pharmacy that sells the morning after pill online. Many pharmacies that operate an “online doctor” service can sell you the morning after pill over the internet, so this is definitely an option – especially if you already use one of these services or find that your preferred pharmacy provides it.

Ordering from ellaOneDirect just takes a couple of minutes. You can start by reading some of the articles on ellaOne.co.uk to see how it all works, or you can jump right in and head over to ellaOneDirect.co.uk which offers discreet, free next-day delivery. In just a few steps, ellaOne® will be on its way to your door! So how do you order ellaOne® online?

• On the landing page of ellaOne® Direct, you’ll see a purple button that says “BUY NOW”.
• The button will take you over to the suitability questionnaire. You must answer this questionnaire accurately as your answers will be reviewed by a pharmacist. This ensures  they have all the information they need to see if ellaOne® is the right choice for you so they can either approve your order or get in touch with any questions they might have.  
• Review your order. This page also contains info on delivery timeframes, so definitely give that a read and make sure you know when your order is most likely to arrive.
  
• Once you’ve done that, you simply need to add in your shipping and billing information and… 
• Confirm your order! 
• Now you just have to wait for your order to show up quickly and in discreet packaging. It’s best to take your ellaOne® pill as soon as it arrives.

ellaOneDirect is operated by Precision Pharmacy which is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council – this means they are legitimate, licensed pharmacists just like the ones in your local pharmacy. In addition, ellaOne.co.uk and ellaOneDirect.co.uk are LegitScript certified, which means they have been carefully checked to ensure that they comply with the laws, regulations and requirements in place for online stores selling healthcare and pharmaceutical products.

You can check that the website you are visiting is registered by looking for the LegitScript or Registered Pharmacy seal, often located right at the bottom of the page. Checking this information can also help ensure you are not on a fraudulent website before you make your purchase.

As for the safety of the morning after pill itself, the pill you receive when you order online is exactly the same as you would get in person. The questionnaire you’ll need to fill out pre-purchase is in place to make sure that it really is the correct medication for you to take. Every single response is reviewed by a pharmacist who may need to call you for further information, so don’t worry – a professional is still there making sure that it’s the right thing for you!

There is a chance you may experience side effects, but ellaOne® is generally well tolerated. If you have any concerns at all, you can still always speak to a pharmacist or your GP. You can also read this article on how ellaOne® works for more information.

It’s important to keep in mind that for your order to arrive the next day, you need to order before 3pm on a weekday. Ordering on the weekend? Orders placed after 10am on a Saturday will be delivered the following Monday, and orders placed after 10am on a Sunday will be delivered on Tuesday. There’s also a reminder of this on the order review page, so don’t worry if you can’t remember all of that off the top of your head!

ellaOne® can help prevent pregnancy for up to 5 days following unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, but it is most effective when taken ASAP and ideally within 24 hours. This is because ellaOne® helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation, so the longer you wait to take it the more time you have to potentially ovulate. ellaOne® will not be effective after you ovulate as it won’t prevent implantation or disrupt an existing pregnancy. If you’re not sure you’ll get it in time to take it within that 5-day window, you may still be better off visiting the pharmacy in person.

There isn’t a set amount of times that you can order or take the morning after pill. ellaOne® can only prevent pregnancy for one instance of contraceptive failure or unprotected sex – so if you have unprotected sex again you would not be covered by the morning after pill you took previously. If you find yourself seeking the morning after pill more than once in one cycle, it’s a good idea to think about what regular contraception might work best for you. You can always discuss this with your pharmacist or GP who will be happy to guide you in the right direction – whether that be condoms, daily contraceptive pill, or one of the many other forms available – depending on your needs.

If you’re curious about the pill, why not check out Hana? Hana is a type of daily contraceptive pill known as a progestogen-only pill, meaning that it does not contain oestrogen and is suitable for people who may not be able to use medications containing oestrogen, such as those who have high blood pressure. It can prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation, or by thickening cervical mucus making it more difficult for sperm to pass through and fertilise an egg.

If you’re interested in learning more about ellaOne, why not check out Fact vs. Fiction: The Morning After Pill? Or find out about others’ experiences with the morning after pill?

ellaOne® 30mg film-coated tablet contains ulipristal acetate and is indicated for emergency contraception within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. Always read the label.

Hana® 75µg film-coated tablets contains desogestrel and is an oral contraception for women of child bearing age to prevent pregnancy. Always read the instructions on the package leaflet carefully.