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.
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.
