Athena is indicated for emergency contraception within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure.
Ulipristal Acetate is an orally-active synthetic SPRM that acts via high-affinity binding to the human progesterone receptor. The primary mechanism of action is inhibition or delay of ovulation. Data shows that even when taken immediately before ovulation is scheduled to occur, Ulipristal Acetate is able to postpone follicular rupture in some women.
One 30 mg tablet must be taken as soon as possible but no later than 120 hours of unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure, with or without food. If vomiting occurs within 3 hours of intake, then another tablet needed to be taken. Ulipristal Acetate can be taken at any time of menstrual cycle.
Most common side-effects are headache, nausea, abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, fatigue, dizziness, breast tenderness etc.
Ulipristal Acetate is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to active substances and in pregnancy.
Always consult a registered doctor before taking any medicine. This information is for general knowledge only.
Athena interacts with the following drugs: Barbiturates, Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Rifampicin, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole etc.
Existing Pregnancy : Athena is not indicated for termination of an existing pregnancy. Ectopic Pregnancy : A history of ectopic pregnancy is not a contraindication to the use of this emergency contraceptive method. Repeated Use : Athena is for occasional use as an emergency contraceptive. It should not replace a regular method of contraception. Repeated use of Athena within the same menstrual cycle is not recommended, as safety and efficacy of repeat use within the same cycle has not been evaluated. Fertility Following Use : A rapid return of fertility is likely following treatment with Athena for emergency contraception. So, to prevent pregnancy on a later episode of sexual intercourse one should use the barrier method (ex. Condom). Effect on Menstrual Cycle : After Athena intake, menses sometimes occur earlier or later than expected by a few days. In clinical trials, cycle length was increased by a mean of 2.5 days but returned to normal in the subsequent cycle. 7% of subjects reported menses occurring more than 7 days earlier than expected, and 19% reported a delay of more than 7 days. If there is a delay in the onset of expected menses beyond 1 week, a pregnancy test should be performed. 9% of women studied reported intermenstrual bleeding after the use of Athena.