Contraception - The Morning After Pill

Monday 15th March 2010

The morning after pill can be used by a woman to prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sex.

While it is very effective at preventing pregnancy if they are used soon after having unprotected sex, they are not a barrier to protect you from any sexually transmitted infections.

The emergency contraceptive pill can be taken up to three days (72 hours) after you have had unprotected sex.

If it is taken within 24 hours of having unprotected sex, the emergency contraceptive pill is effective in preventing 95% of pregnancies. However, the later the emergency contraceptive pill is taken, the lower the success rate.

The emergency contraceptive pill is available free of charge from your GP and most family planning clinics. A number of community pharmacists can also prescribe it to those who are under 18 years of age, including teenagers who are under 16.

If you are over 16 years of age, you can buy the emergency contraceptive pill over-the-counter (OTC) at pharmacies for around £26 and some pharmacies, such as Lloyds, are now selling it online.

The emergency contraceptive pill should not be used as a regular method of contraception.