Levonelle (levonorgestrel) is more commonly know as the "morning after pill," which is used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.

The medication prevents conception in three ways:

• If an egg has not yet been released from the ovaries, it will prevent release.
• If an egg has already been released, it will inhibit fertilization by sperm.
• If fertilization has already occurred, it will prevent the fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.

This treatment is for emergency use and should not be used in place of more conventional methods of birth control. If used properly it will prevent conception from occurring, but it will not terminate an existing pregnancy.

How To Use Levonelle:

Levonelle is effective for up to three days, or 72 hours, after intercourse. Ideally it is taken within 12 hours of sexual activity; after the 12 hour mark it will prevent conception in about 84% of women.

It is safe to use with other forms of birth control, including spermicides, birth control pills, or contraceptive implants. Continue using regular birth control methods as normal. It should not be used as a replacement birth control therapy; regular use of Levonelle may upset menstrual cycles.

Levonelle is administered by tablet. Some women vomit after taking a tablet. If this happens within three hours of administration, another dose should be taken.

This product should only be taken after intercourse. Its effectiveness is diminished if taken prior to sexual activity.

Levonelle is not 100% effective. Women should follow up with a pregnancy test a few weeks after use, especially if experiencing an unusually light period, or a period is skipped altogether.

Before Taking Levonelle:

Levonelle is a remarkably safe medication. A few women will experience mild side effects:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Mild stomachache
• Mild fatigue
• Breast tenderness
• Spotting
• Early or late period
• Unusually heavy or light period

Any disruption of the menstrual cycle, including spotting, should clear up after the next period. Excessive use or overdose of Levonelle may result in longer term disruption.

Though it should not be used while pregnant, this product is not believed to be harmful to fetuses or breast feeding infants.

A rash, hives, or swelling of the face and throat indicates an allergic reaction to one or more of the ingredients and should brought to the attention of a physician.

Though unlikely to produce severe side effects, certain other medications are known to interfere with this treatment's effectiveness. Discuss alternative options with a pharmacist or physician if taking:

• Medications used to treat epilepsy
• Ritonavir, used to treat HIV
• Products containing St John's wort
• Griseofulvin, used to treat fungal infections
• Medications used to treat tuberculosis
• Ciclosporin, an immunosuppressant

Always check that the product is not expired before use -- expired Levonelle will not be effective!

Ingredients:

Active ingredient: levonorgestrel

Inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, colloidal silica anhydrous, potato and maize starch, talc

Controversy:

In some areas use of and easy access to "morning after pills" is highly controversial. It may not be legal in all locations; clients are responsible for abiding by local laws.

In many cases opposition to Levonelle and similar products stems from ignorance of how this treatment actually works. It is not an abortifacient; to the contrary, it is not even harmful to unborn babies once conception has taken place. It is simply another means of preventing conception from taking place, like a condom or spermicide.

Unprotected intercourse does not always result from carelessness or a lapse of judgement. Condoms can break, a birth control dose can be forgotten, or the intercourse may not have been consensual. No form of birth control is 100% foolproof.

Levonelle offers women a convenient, inexpensive, and non-invasive opportunity to maintain reproductive control of their own bodies.