AKA: emergency contraception
What is it?
• If a girl’s had sex without using contraception, or used a condom but it broke, she can take the morning-after pill up to three days (or 72 hours) afterwards, or have an IUD fitted up to five days afterwards, to stop herself becoming pregnant.
• This kind of contraception is just for emergencies because it's not as reliable as the Pill or condoms and doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
• If it's over five days since you had unprotected sex, still see your GP or family planning clinic to discuss your options.
How does it work?
Morning-after pills contain hormones to stop ovaries releasing eggs. They also make the womb slippery so fertilised eggs can’t stick to it (and can’t develop into a baby). The
contraception factfile
has info on the IUD.
Where can I get the morning-after pill?
It's free from your GP or family planning clinic (ask for an immediate appointment) for women of any age including under 16s. Or over 16s can buy it from most chemists for £20, or from your local Marie Stopes Centre for £10.
How do I take the morning-after pill?
It's actually two pills. You take the first as soon as possible after having unprotected sex, and the second 12 hours later. The sooner you gulp your first pill the better; by 72 hours, the pill is less effective at stopping pregnancy
Will I need a check-up afterwards?
You don’t need to go back to your doctor or family planning clinic unless you think you might be pregnant (for example, if your period is late or shorter or lighter than usual). The morning-after pill isn’t 100% effective, so it’s possible. Bear in mind that the hormones in this pill can make your next period different. So don’t panic - you may not be pregnant!
Most importantly, get yourself fixed up with some regular contraception to avoid needing the morning-after pill again.
Further help and advice
• Type in your postcode and find help in your area at ruthinking.co.uk
• mariestopes.org.uk
• fpa.org.uk
• brook.org.uk or call 0800 0185 023 (free)
•
bbc.co.uk/health/sex/
Disclaimer: the BBC can't be held responsible for the content of external websites.
Pictures posed by models.
