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Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of ella® are:⁵

Headache

Nausea

Abdominal pain icon

Abdominal pain

Dysmenorrhea icon

Dysmenorrhea

Fatigue

Dizziness

These are not all the possible side effects of ella. If side effects do occur, they are generally mild to moderate and short in duration.⁵

Impact on menstrual cycle

Some women who take ella may start their next menstrual cycle earlier or later than expected. If a patient has not started their period within 7 days after their normal window, advise them to take a pregnancy test and contact their healthcare provider for further guidance.

Impact on
fertility

ella will not affect future fertility.⁵ Patients will need to wait 5 days before resuming any hormonal birth control and use a condom or other barrier method each time they engage in intercourse until their next period.⁵

Interactions with other medications

Some medications might make ella less effective when taken together. Drugs or herbal products that induce CYP3A4 may decrease the effectiveness of ella.⁵ Medications that may impact the effectiveness of ella include:

Barbiturates
Bosentan
Carbamazepine
Felbamate
Griseofulvin
Oxcarbazepine
Phenytoin
Rifampin
St. John’s wort
Topiramate

If a patient is currently taking any of these medications or has taken any in the last month, ella might not be the best option for them.

Helpful resources regarding ella

Review our collection of clinical guidelines and informational handouts for you and your patients.

Healthcare Provider Detail Aid Booklet

Download

Healthcare Provider Leave-Behind

Download

Patient Info Brochure (English)

Download

Patient Info Brochure (Spanish)

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Important Safety Information

What is ella®?

ella® (ulipristal acetate) is a prescription emergency contraceptive pill used to help prevent pregnancy if you have unprotected sex or your regular birth control fails. ella® is not intended to be used as a regular method of birth control.

Do Not Use ella®:

If you are pregnant, or suspect you are pregnant.
If you are breastfeeding
More than once in a menstrual cycle

What else should I know about taking ella®?

ella® is not for use to end an existing pregnancy.
After taking ella®, use a reliable barrier method of birth control like condoms until your next period.
Do not use hormonal birth control pills (oral contraceptives) for at least 5 days after taking ella®. Using ella® with hormonal birth control pills can reduce the effectiveness of both drugs to prevent pregnancy.
Using some medicines and herbs may make ella® less effective. Talk to your healthcare provider about all medicines and herbs you are taking before using ella®.
If you become pregnant or have lower abdominal pain after taking ella®, seek help from a healthcare provider right away as you could have a pregnancy outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy).
ella® may change when your next period comes. If your period is delayed beyond 1 week, you should take a pregnancy test.

ella® does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or HIV infection (AIDS).

What are the possible side effects of taking ella®?

The most common side effects reported by those taking ella® in a study were headache, nausea, stomach pain, menstrual pain, tiredness, and dizziness. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088. For more information, talk to your healthcare provider and see the Patient Product Information.

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