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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Levonorgestrel vs Ulipristal acetate (Emergency Contraceptive)

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated May 2026

Ulipristal acetate (Emergency Contraceptive) was dispensed 3.6× as often as Levonorgestrel in May 2026 — 45,302 items versus 12,622 in England.

12,622items

Levonorgestrel · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

45,302items

Ulipristal acetate (Emergency Contraceptive) · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Levonorgestrel versus Ulipristal acetate (Emergency Contraceptive): national items dispensed by month

▬ Levonorgestrel   ·   ╌ Ulipristal acetate (Emergency Contraceptive)

0 23k 45k Jan 2021 Dec 2021 Oct 2022 Aug 2023 Jun 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 Ulipristal aceta… 12,622 Jan 2021: 9k Feb 2021: 9k Mar 2021: 12k Apr 2021: 11k May 2021: 12k Jun 2021: 12k Jul 2021: 11k Aug 2021: 9k Sep 2021: 11k Nov 2021: 12k Dec 2021: 10k Jan 2022: 11k Feb 2022: 12k Mar 2022: 14k Apr 2022: 10k May 2022: 13k Jun 2022: 12k Jul 2022: 12k Aug 2022: 11k Sep 2022: 12k Oct 2022: 13k Nov 2022: 14k Dec 2022: 11k Jan 2023: 14k Feb 2023: 13k Mar 2023: 15k Apr 2023: 12k May 2023: 14k Jun 2023: 14k Jul 2023: 13k Aug 2023: 11k Sep 2023: 13k Oct 2023: 13k Nov 2023: 14k Dec 2023: 11k Jan 2024: 13k Feb 2024: 13k Mar 2024: 12k Apr 2024: 12k May 2024: 12k Jun 2024: 12k Jul 2024: 12k Aug 2024: 10k Sep 2024: 12k Oct 2024: 12k Nov 2024: 12k Dec 2024: 11k Jan 2025: 13k Feb 2025: 11k Mar 2025: 12k Apr 2025: 11k May 2025: 11k Jun 2025: 12k Jul 2025: 11k Aug 2025: 10k Sep 2025: 12k Oct 2025: 12k Nov 2025: 12k Dec 2025: 10k Jan 2026: 13k Feb 2026: 13k Mar 2026: 13k Apr 2026: 12k May 2026: 13k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Levonorgestrel versus Ulipristal acetate (Emergency Contraceptive), May 2026
Measure Levonorgestrel Ulipristal acetate (Emergency Contraceptive)
Items, May 2026 12,622 45,302
Items, last 12 months 143,398 269,794
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £1,105,810 £692,713

See the full profile for Levonorgestrel or Ulipristal acetate (Emergency Contraceptive).