Levonelle Morning After Pill

...can obtain a prescription for Levonelle from your GP but as it was a Saturday I had to purchase the tablet over the counter. Fortunately it became legal to sell Levonelle to persons over the age of 16 a few years ago but it's important to note that not all pharmacies agree with this policy and some either don't stock it or refuse to sell it over the counter without a prescription. This is because some pharmacists have taken the view that Levonelle ...
.../> (You should not purchase Levonelle on behalf of someone else)

Have I had unprotected sex within the last 3 days (72hrs)?
(Levonelle is ineffective after 72hrs)

Was my last period unusual in anyway?
(An unusual period may indicate pregnancy in which case you would need to take a pregnancy test first)

Have I used emergency contraception since my last period?
(You must not take Levonelle ... more

Despite my wanting the ground to open up and swallow me of late, I feel compelled to take a deep breath, wipe the naughty school girl smirk from my face and spread the word about contraception. I'm a sensible and intelligent young lady (usually) so rather than assuming you'd never be stupid enough to wind up in my position - take note of my recent unfortunate experience and try to keep it in mind no matter how many sheets to the wind you wind up this weekend.

I think most of us know the risks associated with having unprotected sex and wouldn't be so stupid as to indulge. Pregnancy is the most obvious risk and sexually transmitted infections and diseases are the other risks involved. Despite these risks and the dire consequences they bring, some of us do still indulge in uprotected intercourse, especially when under the influence of alcohol. Some people, like me, don't intend on partaking in such feckless activities but then we don't always bank on what life has to offer us.

In my case, life had a rather attractive young man to offer me whilst out and about celebrating my recent birthday. Eight hours of excessive drinking later and I found myself stark naked and following my "natural urges" on my sofa (with only net curtains to hide my shame). I don't think I could have been more embarrassed the next morning had I woken up next to a sixty year old Grandmother wearing only a thong but until the art of time travel is discovered there's little I could do to undo what I'd done. And on top of this mortification, I realised I hadn't use any protection.

I was unable to go directly to the doctors or pharmacy that day because my son was returned to me ill and unfit to be taken out of the house. So for this reason I had to wait until the next day to seek out emergency contraception in the form of Levonelle, also known as "the morning after pill".

Usually you can obtain a prescription for Levonelle from your GP but as it was a Saturday I had to purchase the tablet over the counter. Fortunately it became legal to sell Levonelle to persons over the age of 16 a few years ago but it's important to note that not all pharmacies agree with this policy and some either don't stock it or refuse to sell it over the counter without a prescription. This is because some pharmacists have taken the view that Levonelle encourages unprotected sex which in turn is to blame for the rise in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Whilst I understand this reasoning; I honestly don't believe that accessability to the morning after pill played any part in my reckless decision to have unprotected sex. Actually, I don't recall ever making an actual decision and there lies the problem with binge drinking.

But back to the morning after pill. I walked into the pharmacy feeling totally humiliated and praying that I wouldn't bump into anyone I knew. In fact I'd deliberately gone to the little pharmacy that hardly anyone uses to avoid detection. I mumbled to the lady behind the counter that I'd like to speak to the pharmacist and the pharmacist promptly appeared. I told her that I needed the morning after pill and she handed me a pad of A5 sized forms. There were only two sheets to each individual form; one for me to fill in and one for my information. The form I filled in asked me six simple questions:

Am I over 16?
(Persons under the age of 16 must obtain a prescription from either a GP or a Family Planning Clinic)

Is the pill for myself?
(You should not purchase Levonelle on behalf of someone else)

Have I had unprotected sex within the last 3 days (72hrs)?
(Levonelle is ineffective after 72hrs)

Was my last period unusual in anyway?
(An unusual period may indicate pregnancy in which case you would need to take a pregnancy test first)

Have I used emergency contraception since my last period?
(You must not take Levonelle twice in one cycle)

Am I taking any other medication? (please detail)
(Some medications may inhibit Levonelle from working or make Levonelle and it's ingredients unsuitable for your use)

The form took just a minute to complete thanks to it's tick box format however I was incredibly embarrassed at having to fill it out while the pharmacist spoke to another customer two feet away from where I sat. After reading through my answers the pharmacist tore up and disposed of the form and went to get the pill out of the locked display cabinet (right in front of said other customer). She handed it to me and charged me an amazing 22.38 for it. She explained that I might feel a bit unwell and have a headache and told me I should take it easy for the rest of the day. Easier said than done considering I was on my way to work for the afternoon.

I received no advice about regular contraception or precautions about sexually transmitted infections and diseases which is a bit of a concern. Personally I needed to use this pill as a one-off following a stupid mistake and I know (and usually heed) the facts about these things. Some people, especially younger girls, might have benefited from some information though. Perhaps the pharmacist picked up on my embarrassment and decided it wasn't neccessary to preach, I don't know. I do know that a doctor would have taken the time to impart a little knowledge before handing over a prescription for it though.

WHAT IS LEVONELLE?

The pill itself is a single, tiny white tablet that you can take at any time of day with a sip of water to prevent conception up to three days (72hrs) after you've had unprotected sex. Also in the little box the pill comes in is an information leaflet that outlines precautions, an explanation of what the tablet is, manufacturer's details, how the pill works, advice on contraception, possible side effects and details of where you can get further information.

SIDE EFFECTS

Possible side effects include feeling sick for a short while after, having a headache, tender breasts, lower abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dizziness or tiredness. These symptoms should all clear up after a few days. It's normal for some people to have a slightly earlier or later period after taking this pill or to experience spotting or bleeding irregularly up until your next period is due. If you vomit within three hours of taking this pill you should take another one immediately.

EFFECTIVENESS

If taken within 24hrs of having unprotected sex, Levonelle is 95% effective.

If taken between 25hrs and 48hrs after having unprotected sex, Levonelle is 85% effective.

If taken between 49hrs and 72hrs after having unprotected sex, Levonelle is 58% effective.

After 72hrs conception may have already taken place in which case it is impossible to prevent it. Levonelle will definetely not work if you are already pregnant when you take it.

WHY MIGHT IT NOT WORK?

Levonelle might not work if you have already had unprotected sex during your cycle, if you have unprotected sex again during your cycle, if you vomit, if you are taking a medication that can interfere with the drug or if you have a medical condition that causes malabsorption such as Crohn's disease. It may also fail to work if conception has already taken place so the sooner you take it after you've had unprotected sex the better.

For more information go to www.levonelle.co.uk

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I took the tablet at 1pm and by twenty past I started to experience a headache. Never mind I thought to myself, the pharmacist did warn me this might happen. She didn't warn me about what happened next though and neither did my little booklet. Around half past one I started to feel tingling under my skin and I had a bit of an itch. Ten minutes later I found myself trying to serve customers with one hand and scratch myself to pieces with the other. When my boss came down to help serve at 2pm I was covered in red blotches and scratching half my skin off! Come half past two I was on my way to casualty...

I knew exactly what was wrong with me, I was having an allergic reaction. My head and arms ached and my fingers were swollen and I just couldn't stop itching. As I'm also allergic to Septrin, Penicillin, Ibuprofen and Caffeine; I know the warning signs by now. A large dose of steroids and antihistamines and I was starting to feel a little better. That said, I have continued to feel ill these last ten days. I have been up late most nights which my GP feels is caused by the steroids (imagine drinking ten cups of coffee) and I've also been experiencing swollen breasts, tiredness, dizzy spells and sharp abdominal pains as well as a drastic increase in vaginal discharge (normal in smell and colour so not usually a sign of infection).

Levonelle warns that you may experience most of the above symptoms for a few days afterwards, it says nothing about continuing to experience them for ten days. For this reason I have a pregnancy test strip winging it's way to me from ebay as I write. Whether or not the morning after pill has worked for me is yet to be seen. Owing to the fact I stupidly had unprotected sex around the time I was due to ovulate followed by an allergic reaction to the emergency contraception - I DON'T LIKE MY CHANCES.

It is entirely possible that one of three things is taking place; either I am pregnant, have contracted an STI/STD or the side effects of this pill run on for longer than the manufacturer claims they do. I will be on hand to update this review next week when I have a more definete answer on that one.

WORD OF WARNING

Whilst Levonelle may well prevent conception from taking place, unprotected sex also puts you at risk of sexually transmitted infections and diseases including thrush which is harmless but itchy and painful, gonorrhoea which is often symptomless but can cause infertility or increase your risks of an ectopic pregnancy and chlamydia which is again often symptomless but can lead to pain and infertility. Most infections and diseases can be detected and treated by your local GUM clinic (see Yellow Pages or ask your GP for their number). If you catch the herpes virus though (genital warts) you can only ever manage the condition - not cure it completely. In my opinion, considering that the only reason for taking Levonelle is that you either didn't use contraception or that your contraception failed, I feel Levonelle have a moral duty to provide more information on STIs and STDs along with their product.

CONTRACEPTION

The best way to stay safe from unwanted contraception is to not have sex. Not up for that one? No? Okay so the next best thing is to use two forms of contraception together, including a "barrier" such as a condom or diaphram. According to NetDoctor, the following forms of contraception are considered to be most effective:

Vasectomy: almost 100%
Sterilisation: almost 100%
The Combined Pill: almost 100%
The Contraceptive Injection: almost 100%
The (IUS) Mirena Coil: 98-99%
The (IUD) Coil: 97-98%
The Mini-Pill: 98%
Male Condom: 90-98%
Female Condom: 90-98%
Diaphram with Spermicide: 90-96%

SO WOULD I RECOMMEND LEVONELLE?

Yes I would for want of an alternative. As I've explained already, the ideal solution would have been to use protection in the first place. But if it's too late for that then I fail to see what choice you have. The reaction I experienced was upsetting and distressing and the extent of the side effects is yet to be fully realised but I still don't regret taking it. I don't want another child, especially by a one night stand, and the morning after pill was my best bet at the time. The morning after pill is expensive to buy but completely free if you obtain a prescription from your GP first. Whilst Levonelle cannot protect you from STDs and STIs it is 95% effective at preventing contraception from taking place if taken within 24hrs of having unprotected sex which means only 1 in 20 people will wind up pregnant from their one night stand - and that's only if they had intercourse at a time in their cycle when they might conceive.

MY FINAL THOUGHT

If you can't be good or careful,
You'll need to take Levonelle,
Despite the side effects giving you hell,
(and give your GUM clinic a bell).

+++UPDATE+++

Having researched my family history back several hundred years, it would seem that quite a few of my ancestors wound up "marrying below their station" or having to pass their child off as their sibling due to unprotected sex. Thanks to the modern intervention of Levonelle, I shan't be joining them. Yes I experienced numerous unpleasant side effects from this drug and I suffered on and off for a fortnight for my sins. But the most important thing here is that an unplanned baby will not be bought into the world as a result of drunken stupidity.  

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