Generic levonorgestrel
Emergency contraception
Levonorgestrel 1500 micrograms
One dose that works up to 3 days after pregnancy risk. The sooner you take it the better
Side effects are rare
Affordable alternative to Levonelle
We’ll ask you some questions about your health and any contraception you use. Our prescribers review your answers before prescribing.
What happens next
Order online
Orders are reviewed and prescribed by our clinical team 7 days a week. If we need more information about you or your health, one of our clinicians will text you.
Free, fast delivery
Our pharmacy sends out prescriptions Monday to Friday, 8am-3pm. We’ll text you a tracking link when your order is in the post. We deliver by 1st Class Royal Mail.
Support from our expert team
If we cannot deliver the pill you want in time for it to work, we’ll help you consider your other options to find what works best for you.
Order now, use later
Order a spare morning after pill in case you need it later. Always use a condom to protect yourself from STIs.
What our users say
I think Fettle is great. Every time I’ve tried to get contraception by other means it feels quite over complicated and I get very anxious about whether I will get the pill on time. Fettle has reduced this anxiety significantly and is definitely my new go to means of getting the pill. I’m very grateful for the service.
Brilliant service, it's so convenient to be able to order online and it's easier to fill in a form than have to answer personal questions with a stranger. No embarrassment or awkwardness.
This has really helped me, I suffer with anxiety and struggle to get contraception. This has benefited me massively and I can't thank you enough for the service.
About generic levonorgestrel
What does generic mean?
Some medicines use the same ingredients but are known by different brand names.
When you buy generic levonorgestrel, you’ll get a pill that has the same hormones at the same levels as the brand Levonelle. Your pill will work in the same way and have the same effect. But it might have different branding on the packaging.
Generic medicines are often cheaper than brand-name ones - but there’s no difference in quality.
How to take generic levonorgestrel
Take one dose within 3 days (72 hours) of pregnancy risk. This means when you had unprotected sex or sex where your condom broke, or you forgot your regular contraception.
Levonorgestrel is much more likely to work if you take it within 24 hours of having sex.
If you are 70kg or over, or your BMI (Body Mass Index) is 26 or more, you need to take 2 tablets. This won’t affect the price of your emergency contraception.
If you are sick (vomit) in the first 3 hours after taking your dose, text our clinicians and we’ll talk through your options. You'll need to take another dose and we can help you find a pharmacy or clinic.
Taking levonorgestrel with other contraception
Levonorgestrel is a type of progestogen. This doesn’t interfere with your regular method of contraception. You can keep using your contraception as usual when you take levonorgestrel.
Why choose levonorgestrel?
If you haven’t used contraception, or your condom split or came off, levonorgestrel reduces your chance of pregnancy. It’s effective up to 3 days (72 hours) after your pregnancy risk. And it's most effective if you take it in the first 24 hours after sex.
There are no health risks from taking levonorgestrel. You can take it while breastfeeding. It does not interfere with hormonal contraception. But it does interact with the other type of emergency contraception, ulipristal acetate (sold as ellaOne), so these different types should not be taken in the same cycle.
Generic levonorgestrel is just like Levonelle, but less expensive.
Levonorgestrel will prevent 50% of pregnancies. It's sometimes said that it's more effective than this, up to 97% effective. We don't use that figure because we don't think it gives the full story - not everyone who takes this pill would get pregnant without it. For example, they might have had sex during a non-fertile time in their menstrual cycle.
The effectiveness of levonorgestrel can be reduced if you take other medications, like treatments for epilepsy, TB or HIV or a herbal remedy called St John’s Wort.
We recommend you do a pregnancy test 3 weeks after unprotected sex to make sure the levonorgestrel has worked. Taking a test any earlier will not be accurate.
Do you need help with something else?
Find your local sexual health clinic.
Find your local pharmacy.
Find out how the non-hormonal coil works, who it's suitable for and the benefits and risks.
Find out where you can access medication to reduce your chance of becoming infected with HIV. It must be started within 3 days of exposure.
