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Emergency contraception
The emergency contraceptive pill can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse but is most effective if taken within 24 hours. We run urgent surgeries each weekday morning 9 to 10am to deal with issues such as this
Some local pharmacies take part in a scheme that offers free emergency contraception, free pregnancy tests, and free Chlamydia tests to patients under 25 years of age. Click here to open a list of pharmacists supplying these services
The emergency contraceptive pill can also be purchased from pharmacists over-the-counter, but if you buy it over-the-counter you will be charged approximately four times the standard prescription charge
How effective is it?
Studies suggest that this method works very well i.e. 98-99% effective.
Emergency pill contraception will not prevent a possible pregnancy from
unprotected sex earlier in your cycle, nor will it prevent a pregnancy
if you have unprotected sex after the treatment
A post coital coil may be more appropriate if you have had more than one episode of unprotected sex this cycle, are too late for the emergency pill, or are at very high risk of pregnancy e.g. mid cycle. Coils are also believed to be more effective than the emergency pill, and will provide ongoing protection against unwanted pregnancy
Future contraception
Arrange to see a doctor again if you wish to consider an ongoing method
of contraception. You may wish to review these contraceptive
choices including Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs)
Source: LSMP
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