Emergency contraception
Pregnancy prevention following unprotected sex.
A short-term method of contraception.
Emergency contraception pills help to prevent a pregnancy when taken up to five days after unprotected sex.
They work by preventing or delaying the release of an egg from the ovaries. A very popular type of emergency contraception involves taking one or two tablets of a particular hormone. This is sometimes called ‘the morning after pill’ or ‘Plan B’.
An intrauterine device (IUD) can also be used as emergency contraception as it can prevent a fertilised egg from settling in the womb.
You may wish to consider having a supply of emergency contraceptive pill or pills at home so you have them easily available should you need them as they only work within five days of unprotected sex.
Effectiveness
Emergency contraception works well at preventing a pregnancy after unprotected sex. In general the sooner an emergency contraceptive is used the more effective it is at stopping a pregnancy.
Pricing
Please contact our team for more information about pricing.
If you’re starting to use contraception for the first time, or thinking about using a new method, it’s a good idea to have a full consultation.
Call us toll-free for a confidential chat
0808 00 19/20
Find our locations that offer contraception and family planning services.
Emergency contraception advantages
Emergency contraception offers the following advantages as a short-term method of contraception:
- It is safe for almost all women
- Using emergency contraception does not affect long term fertility
- It does not cause an abortion
- You can use emergency contraception at any time in your menstrual cycle
- Emergency contraception is not harmful to your health.
Things to consider
When deciding if emergency contraception is a method right for you, here are a few quick facts you should consider:
- It will only work for sex that occurred in the previous five days
- It is not recommended as a regular method of contraception
- Unlike condoms, it does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- It may have some side effects, such as bleeding, nausea and fatigue.
Emergency contraception and other medicines
Emergency contraceptives can interfere with other medications.
Depending which brand of emergency contraception you use, there is a small risk it may affect:
- St John’s Wort herbal medicine
- Various epilepsy medicines
- Various HIV medicines
- Various tuberculosis (TB) medicines
- Antacid medicines
In all cases, we recommend speaking with us or your healthcare practitioner before taking emergency contraception. You should also read the information leaflet that is supplied with your medicines.
Find your best fit
If you’re unsure what method is best for you, take our online contraception quiz.
