Morning-After Pill
If you have had intercourse with a possibility of pregnancy despite not wishing to become pregnant, emergency contraception may be able to prevent pregnancy.
If contraception has failed, please visit a medical institution as soon as possible.
No health insurance card or parental consent is required for a pill prescription, and prescriptions are available even for minors.
For those living far away, we offer telephone consultations and a delivery service.
What is the Morning-After Pill (Emergency Contraception)?
The morning-after pill is a contraceptive method used when you have had intercourse without contraception, or when contraception has failed, such as when a condom has broken.
The following methods cannot provide contraception, so if you did not use contraception or if it failed, you need to consider taking the morning-after pill.
– Withdrawal (pulling out) [Even with withdrawal, a pregnancy rate of around 20 percent has been reported]
– Vaginal douching
– Intercourse without a condom on days when the possibility of pregnancy is low (so-called safe days)
Who the Morning-After Pill Is For
The following are the main groups of people for whom the morning-after pill (emergency contraception) is intended.
– Those who want contraception
– Those whose condom slipped off or broke despite using one
– Those who had intercourse after forgetting to take their pill
– Those who have experienced sexual violence
– Anyone else who wishes to prevent an unwanted pregnancy
Among the morning-after pills we prescribe, Ella can be used within 120 hours after sexual intercourse.
Types of Medication and Prices
We prescribe the following 2 types of emergency contraception.
Both medications prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation through the action of their active ingredient, a progestogen.
In addition, by suppressing the growth of the endometrium, they prevent implantation even if an egg is fertilized, thereby preventing pregnancy.
A separate consultation fee applies in addition to the price. All morning-after pills are prescribed as self-pay care.
Students can use the student prices. Please see here for details.
Cost: 7,000 yen (1 tablet per dose)
When to take: taking 1 tablet within 120 hours (5 days) after intercourse gives a contraceptive effect of 98.9%
BMI*: Can be used by everyone
Other: An emergency contraceptive approved by the US FDA (the United States Food and Drug Administration), and the mainstream emergency contraceptive overseas. It is effective for 5 days after intercourse and causes little nausea. Its active ingredient, ulipristal acetate (a progestogen), is also used as a medication for treating uterine fibroids.
Cost: 7,000 yen (1 tablet per dose)
When to take: taking 1 tablet within 72 hours (3 days) after intercourse gives a contraceptive effect
BMI*: Can only be used by those with a BMI under 30
Other: An emergency contraceptive approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
*BMI = weight[kg] ÷ (height[m])²
Side Effects and Precautions
Emergency contraception has almost no side effects. In rare cases, nausea, headache, abdominal pain or irregular bleeding may occur.
For those who wish, we also prescribe anti-nausea medication together with it.
If you vomit within 3 hours, you need to take another 1 tablet.
If you are worried about the possibility of vomiting, we can also prescribe 2 tablets at the same time (1 tablet to use and 1 tablet as a spare in case you vomit), so please consult with us.
The following are people who must not take emergency contraception.
– Those with an allergy to the ingredients of this medication
– Those who are pregnant
– Those who have been told they have cardiac or hepatic impairment
– Those who are breastfeeding
When to Take the Medication
Even if the recommended time window after intercourse for emergency contraception has passed, you can still take emergency contraception.
Even more than 72 hours after intercourse, if it is within 120 hours, this is within the indication for Ella.
In addition, even if taken more than 120 hours afterwards, although the effect drops considerably compared with within 120 hours after intercourse, a certain degree of effect can still be expected, so please consult with a doctor.
If Contraception Is Successful
If you have period-like bleeding within 3 weeks of taking emergency contraception, contraception has been successful.
If you have no menstruation even after 3 weeks have passed since intercourse, contraception may have failed, so please use a pregnancy test or go to a hospital and be tested to confirm whether you are pregnant.
Consultation Flow
The consultation flow for prescribing the morning-after pill at our clinic is as follows.
Medical Interview and Consultation with a Doctor
Explanation of How to Take the Medication
Prescription and Payment
We hand over the morning-after pill at the reception desk (a consultation fee applies).
We also provide testing and treatment for STIs, vaccine administration of various types (including for those traveling overseas) and consultations regarding gender. For details, please see the page below.