Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsElla vs. Plan B: Important DifferencesHow to Take Ella vs. Plan BWhich Works Better for Emergency Contraception?Side Effects: Which Is More Tolerable?Drug InteractionsOther Contraceptives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Ella vs. Plan B: Important Differences
How to Take Ella vs. Plan B
Which Works Better for Emergency Contraception?
Side Effects: Which Is More Tolerable?
Drug Interactions
Other Contraceptives
Ella (ulipristal acetate) and Plan B (levonorgestrel) are twoemergency contraceptive pillsfor use to prevent pregnancy after having condomless sex or when a condom fails (tears or slips) during sex.
Both can reduce your chance of developing an unwanted pregnancy, although they differ in how you can purchase them and how many days you can take them after having sex.
This article will discuss their key differences, side effects, how they work, and the safest way to take them.
Getty Images /Thierry Monasse/ Contributor
What Is Ella?
Ella is time-dependent, which means the sooner you take it after having sex, the more likely it will prevent pregnancy. Ella should be taken within five days of sexual intercourse.
Usually, when sperm travels from the vagina into the uterus, it enters and fertilizes an egg found in yourfallopian tube. It then drops into the uterus, where your pregnancy begins. This egg is only released once a month when you areovulating.
What Is Plan B?
Unlike Ella, you can purchase Plan B without a prescription (and without any age restrictions) at common drugstores.
With both Ella and Plan B, it is recommended to take them as soon as possible after having condomless sex or sex where a condom fails.
Ella is a single 30-milligram (mg) tablet and can be taken at any time, with or without food.Plan B comes as a single 1.5 mg tablet. It can also be taken at any time, with or without food.
With Ella, it must be taken within five days of sex, while Plan B must be taken within three days. If you are already pregnant, neither medication can end a pregnancy and should not be taken. These are not abortion pills.
If you vomit after taking either pill, you will need to take it again for it to be effective.
It is important to remember that neither Ella nor Plan B protects againstsexually transmitted diseases (STDs)orHIV.
The effectiveness of both medications depends on how soon you take them after sex. If it has been longer than three days, however, Plan B is no longer effective, whereas Ella will still be effective up to five days after intercourse.
Ella has proved more effective thanPlan Bfor reducing pregnancy when taken after sex, though it has similar side effects.
Will Ella and Plan B Work if You’ve Already Ovulated?
If you took Ella or Plan B but have not menstruated in over three weeks, visit your healthcare provider because pregnancy may have occurred.
Can You Take Ella and Plan B Together?
Taking both medications at the same time will not increase your chance of stopping an unwanted pregnancy. Taking them together can increase your risk of developing unwanted side effects.
Does Weight Affect How Well They Work?
These medications may not work as well if you are over a certain weight.
Studies suggest that Plan B will be less effective if you weigh over 155 pounds, whereas Ella may be less effective in those weighing 195 pounds or more.
A Word From Verywell Health
—LINDSAY COOK, PHARMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Both Ella and Plan B are well tolerated. However, like all medications, they may cause certain side effects.
Common side effects such as headache, nausea, or dizziness can result from both medications. Below is a list of some of the more common side effects of both medications.
Common side effects of Ella include:
Common side effects of Plan B include:
Do Emergency Contraceptives Cause Infertility?
Neither medication will cause long-lasting effects.
It is important to remember neither Ella nor Plan B are for routine contraception. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider about what type of contraception is right for you.
Can Ella or Plan B Interact With Any Other Drugs?
Ella and Plan B have similar drug interactions, which include:
Interactions With Hormonal ContraceptivesElla can reduce how well birth control pills work if you take them at the same time. Wait five days after taking Ella to start your oral contraceptive pills and use another backup method of contraception until your next menstrual period.
Interactions With Hormonal Contraceptives
Ella can reduce how well birth control pills work if you take them at the same time. Wait five days after taking Ella to start your oral contraceptive pills and use another backup method of contraception until your next menstrual period.
There are multiple names for emergency contraceptive pills, which can include:
Aside from oral contraceptive pills,intrauterine devices (IUDs)can prevent an unwanted pregnancy.
Unlike Ella and Plan B, which are only for emergency contraception, an IUD is a device that is implanted inside the vagina and can serve as routine contraception.
Acopper IUDis a suitable option for people with obesity who may not respond as well to hormonal birth control pills or emergency contraception like Ella or Plan B.
Summary
Both have similar side effects and work similarly to stop you from getting pregnant.
It’s always important to discuss your medication history with a healthcare provider when taking emergency contraception. Certain medications can impact how well it can work in your body.
The author would like to thank and recognize Jon Candelaria for contributing to this article.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Ella- ulipristal acetate tablet. November 1, 2023.DailyMed.Label: Plan B One-Step- levonorgestrel tablet. January 31, 2023.Rosato E, Farris M, Bastianelli C.Mechanism of action of ulipristal acetate for emergency contraception: a systematic review.Front Pharmacol. 2016;6:315. doi:10.3389/fphar.2015.00315Planned Parenthood.What’s the Ella morning-after pill?Edelman AB, Hennebold JD, Bond K, et al.Double dosing levonorgestrel-based emergency contraception for individuals with obesity: a randomized controlled trial.Obstet Gynecol. 2022;140(1):48-54. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004717Goldstuck ND, Wildemeersch D.Practical advice for emergency IUD contraception in young women.Obstet Gynecol Int. 2015;2015:986439. doi:10.1155/2015/986439
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Ella- ulipristal acetate tablet. November 1, 2023.DailyMed.Label: Plan B One-Step- levonorgestrel tablet. January 31, 2023.Rosato E, Farris M, Bastianelli C.Mechanism of action of ulipristal acetate for emergency contraception: a systematic review.Front Pharmacol. 2016;6:315. doi:10.3389/fphar.2015.00315Planned Parenthood.What’s the Ella morning-after pill?Edelman AB, Hennebold JD, Bond K, et al.Double dosing levonorgestrel-based emergency contraception for individuals with obesity: a randomized controlled trial.Obstet Gynecol. 2022;140(1):48-54. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004717Goldstuck ND, Wildemeersch D.Practical advice for emergency IUD contraception in young women.Obstet Gynecol Int. 2015;2015:986439. doi:10.1155/2015/986439
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DailyMed.Label: Ella- ulipristal acetate tablet. November 1, 2023.DailyMed.Label: Plan B One-Step- levonorgestrel tablet. January 31, 2023.Rosato E, Farris M, Bastianelli C.Mechanism of action of ulipristal acetate for emergency contraception: a systematic review.Front Pharmacol. 2016;6:315. doi:10.3389/fphar.2015.00315Planned Parenthood.What’s the Ella morning-after pill?Edelman AB, Hennebold JD, Bond K, et al.Double dosing levonorgestrel-based emergency contraception for individuals with obesity: a randomized controlled trial.Obstet Gynecol. 2022;140(1):48-54. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004717Goldstuck ND, Wildemeersch D.Practical advice for emergency IUD contraception in young women.Obstet Gynecol Int. 2015;2015:986439. doi:10.1155/2015/986439
DailyMed.Label: Ella- ulipristal acetate tablet. November 1, 2023.
DailyMed.Label: Plan B One-Step- levonorgestrel tablet. January 31, 2023.
Rosato E, Farris M, Bastianelli C.Mechanism of action of ulipristal acetate for emergency contraception: a systematic review.Front Pharmacol. 2016;6:315. doi:10.3389/fphar.2015.00315
Planned Parenthood.What’s the Ella morning-after pill?
Edelman AB, Hennebold JD, Bond K, et al.Double dosing levonorgestrel-based emergency contraception for individuals with obesity: a randomized controlled trial.Obstet Gynecol. 2022;140(1):48-54. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004717
Goldstuck ND, Wildemeersch D.Practical advice for emergency IUD contraception in young women.Obstet Gynecol Int. 2015;2015:986439. doi:10.1155/2015/986439
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