Levonelle (morning after pill) mid cycle will it work ?

[Starlight31]

Hi I'm worried that I had u protected sex on what is it ovulation day according to my period tracker (day 13 of a 27/28 day cycle though sometimes it has been 30 days). I took levonelle about 12 hours after the deed and have read lots of horror stories about people still getting pregnant as they were mid cycle and at their most fertile point and potentially had already ovulated. This happened on sat night /Sunday morning . I've been to a family planning clinic who didn't seem too fussed but said they will do the cooper coil tomorrow. I'm really scared of getting it done as it says there is a risk of uterine perforation. Has anyone any experience of this or does any one have any advice? I'm debating whether or not to hope the pill worked and not get the coil. I'm getting very stressed about this ! New partner so pregnancy would be really bad

[MiniJellyBeans]

Hi Starlight, sorry you've had such a worrying few days - it is true that Levonelle's only mechanism of action is to stop ovulation if taken before the mid cycle hormonal surge ("LH surge") which triggers ovulation, so based on your usual cycle length there is quite a high risk that you could already have ovulated when you took it. It isn't thought to be effective after ovulation (unlike the other emergency pill, ella One). An emergency IUD is highly effective if fitted within 5 days of unprotected sex. The risk of uterine perforation with IUD fitting is low, especially if the fitting is done by somebody experienced - overall it's about 1 in 1000, but is higher if you're breastfeeding (presume not?). One advantage of going ahead with the IUD is that, if it suits you, you can keep that as long term contraception with no hormones. Feel free to PM me if it would help.

[Starlight31]

Dear Mini Jellybeans,

Thanks so much for your reply. So it sounds on balance that it's worth going for this coil. Would probably be too dodgy to risk not having it done. What a nightmare! The family planning clinic nurse also said that they should have given me Ella one. When I went to the pharmacy they didn't ask where I was in my cycle so just gave me whatever it seems. So bad!! if I hadn't googled this all I would have no clue!

[MiniJellyBeans]

Good luck Starlight - before you go to your IUD appointment, it would be advisable to have something to eat and drink and take some painkillers. Can anyone go with you for moral support and to accompany you home?

[Starlight31]

Ha I wish! Nope I'm going on my own and I have to go straight back to work as working a 12 hour shift !! Hoping it won't be too painful and can get though the day ok

[Starlight31]

Is there a reason why I can't just take Ella one as well as levonelle ? Surely that kind of hormone hit would do the trick no? I'm clearly looking for anyway to avoid the coil!!!

[Sweets101]

It didn't work for me. I had no idea you had to take it pre ovulation and no one mentioned.
I wouldn't worry too much about perforation re copper coil, the odds are very small and personally copper coil is my contraception of choice now.

[Starlight31]

Sweets is it really painful? I was going to go straight back to work afterwards . Also omg you got pregnant after taking it m the pill ? It's ridiculous they don't inform women properly

[MiniJellyBeans]

Sorry Starlight, it's not advisable to take Levonelle and Ella One close together (don't want to bore you but they compete for the same progesterone receptors).

[scaevola]

Well, it prevents 85% of pregnancies which would have otherwise have been expected. And as most people take it mid cycle, then it's other actions, such as changes to uterine lining, have a role.

(and of course you only become pregnant when you are your fertile points, and as there is a well published 15% rate, then that's how the Internet chat tends to be. If you weren't at a fertile point, then you wouldn't be pregnant even if you took nothing)

[Starlight31]

They couldn't fit it. I saw an experienced dr who tried and said my internal os was completely closed and it didn't open when she tried dilating it. She discussed it with colleagues and decided to give me Ella 1 despite taking levonelle on Sunday afternoon. She said that normally it's not taken together as levonelle can make Ella 1 less effective but she said hopefully it will have metabolized by now and even if it makes ella1 less effective I've nothing to lose trying it! What a nightmare

[MiniJellyBeans]

Sorry to hear that Starlight, hope it wasn't too painful while the doctor was trying to dilate the cervix etc. As you say, you having nothing to lose by taking the ella One in the hope that it will still be effective.

[Starlight31]

Ah thanks MiniJellyBeans. Yeah it wasn't too painful really; I'd taken painkillers before I went thankfully! Guess I've tried all I can so have to keep fingers crossed. Thanks again for all your advice!