What is ella®?
ella® is an oral emergency contraceptive pill that contains ulipristal acetate. Available in all 50 states, ella® is effective at preventing pregnancy for up to 5 days after unprotected sex, even when ovulation is imminent, and your risk of pregnancy is at its highest.
Over 55 million women around the world have turned to ella® to take charge of their sex lives. Whether you’re just being introduced to ella® or reconnecting, ella® is ready to be your safety net.
What is emergency contraception?
How ella® works
When you have unprotected sex, sperm travels through the cervix into the fallopian tubes. There, sperm wait for up to 5 days to meet with an egg that’s been released through the process of ovulation. ella® works by delaying ovulation from occurring, helping to prevent an egg from meeting with sperm in the fallopian tubes.
ella® is proven effective for up to 5 days after unprotected sex, but it’s important that you take ella® as soon as possible after unprotected sex. In clinical trials (or scientific studies), there was a pregnancy rate of less than 1% when ella® was taken within 24 hours after having unprotected sex. In those same studies, there was a pregnancy rate of 1.3% when ella® was taken within 5 days after having unprotected sex. Because your cycle can change from month to month, it may be hard to tell when you’re ovulating. By taking ella® as soon as possible after unprotected sex, you reduce the risk of ovulating. If ovulation has already happened, ella® – or any other emergency contraceptive pill – will not be able to prevent pregnancy.
