Emergency Contraception

If you have had unprotected sex, that is, sex without using contraception, or when you think your contraception might have failed, you can use emergency contraception. There are two methods of emergency contraception:-

• Hormonal emergency contraception (known as the emergency contraceptive pill), and
• The copper IUD. The IUD is the most effective

For further information please click on the links below to be directed to the following websites

NHS Direct
Family Planning Association

Hormonal emergency contraception

You can get the emergency pill and the emergency IUD free from

• the Surgery
• any family planning clinic
• any young person’s clinic or Brook clinic
• any sexual health clinic
• some genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics.

You can buy the emergency pill from most pharmacies. It will cost around £26.00

The emergency contraceptive pill is a tablet containing progesterone, a hormone which is similar to the natural progesterone women produce in their ovaries. You will be given 1 pill to take. It should be taken within 3 days (72 hours) of having unprotected sex. It is more effective the sooner it is taken.

The pill is most likely to

• stop an egg being released (ovulation)
• delay ovulation
• it may also stop a fertilised egg settling in your womb (implanting).

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The Copper IUD

An IUD is a small plastic and copper device that is put into your womb by a specially trained doctor or a nurse.

An IUD can be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex that occurred since the last period. It may stop an egg being fertilised or implanting in your womb.

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