Morning-after pill works up to 5 days after unprotected sex

London, Jan 29 (AN): A new morning-after pill has been found effective in reducing the likelihood of unwanted pregnancy after unprotected sex, say researchers.

The drug, known as Ellaone, is almost twice as effective after three days as the emergency contraceptive handed out at pharmacies,

In the study involving 5,500 women, the pill was found to stall 98 per cent of pregnancies when taken five days after sex.

Ellaone contains a synthetic version of female hormone progesterone, reports The Sun.

The original morning-after pill, Levonorgestrel, has been 95 per cent effective if taken within 24 hours - but the efficacy falls to 58 per cent after three days.

The study appears in journal Lancet. (ANI)