Emergency Contraception Within 12 Hours

Timing is the single biggest factor in emergency contraception effectiveness. Both available products work by delaying or preventing ovulation, which means the closer to (or after) ovulation you are, the less they can do. The hours that pass after unprotected sex matter as much as which product you take.

Within the first 24 hours, both Postinor and Mifestad are highly effective — typically 95% or higher. Between 24 and 72 hours, the picture starts to shift in favor of Mifestad, which maintains effectiveness more reliably than Postinor as the window lengthens. After 72 hours, only Mifestad remains an evidence-based option, with usefulness extending out to 120 hours.

The timing window is also the best lens for understanding why provincial delivery can change the recommendation. If your area is one to four days away by courier, ordering Mifestad gives you the buffer needed for the medication to still be within its effective range when it arrives. Ruth Health's effectiveness calculator can help estimate where you are in the window and which product is appropriate.

Ruth Health was built around the practical realities of emergency contraception in the Philippines. That means treating timing seriously, offering discreet same-day delivery in Metro Manila, and ensuring the right product is dispatched for the patient's situation — including provincial delivery windows where Mifestad's longer effectiveness window matters.

Every order goes through a brief, evidence-based intake. When a clinician should weigh in — for example, when a patient is breastfeeding, on enzyme-inducing medications, or unsure about the time elapsed — that review happens before dispatch. Packaging is unbranded, delivery is tracked, and follow-up support is available through chat for as long as it is helpful.

When the situation has urgent components — severe pain, heavy bleeding, possible sexual assault, or signs of serious health issues — the recommendation is always to seek immediate care at a hospital or clinic, with EC support continuing alongside that care rather than replacing it.