Pharmacies carefully balance the need for safety and cautious diagnosis with the need for availability of certain types of medication as soon as possible, which means that there are sometimes exceptions to the conventional rules of prescription.
One of these is found with emergency contraception services, which are available at pharmacies without a prescription in the form of an effective single tablet that can be taken to stop pregnancy after unprotected sex or if other forms of contraception fail.
They are one of just a small number of medications that are technically only available on prescription, but are primarily accessed without one.
Why is this? There are several reasons, but the biggest is that emergency contraceptive pills are very time sensitive, and ensuring that anyone who needs them has access to them is key to avoiding unwanted pregnancy.
What Is Emergency Contraceptive Medication?
An emergency contraceptive medication (sometimes known as the morning after pill) is a medication that is taken as soon after sex as possible to stop, delay or disrupt ovulation and fertilisation, which in turn stops someone from getting pregnant.
There are two main types of emergency contraceptive pills:
- Levonorgestrel, also known as Levonelle, which stops the ovaries from releasing an egg for a sperm to fertilise. It is most effective within 72 hours of having unprotected sex.
- Ulipristal Acetate, also known as ellaOne, which similarly works by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg that can be fertilised. It works most effectively within five days.
In both cases, time affects their effectiveness significantly, so the earlier you get the chance to visit your local pharmacy, pick it up and take it, the better. It also does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
It consists of a single pill you can take at any time; you do not need to take it with food, and there is only one dose.
Whilst not everyone can take the combined contraceptive pill, a common, regularly prescribed hormonal contraceptive, almost everyone can take the emergency contraceptive pill, although a pharmacist, nurse or GP will examine your medical history to ensure it is right for you.
Who Cannot Take The Emergency Contraceptive?
If you take medicine to treat HIV, epilepsy or tuberculosis, it can potentially impact the effectiveness of the morning-after pill, so it is essential to let your pharmacist know what you are taking to ensure that there is no conflict.
Similarly, if you take certain herbal or antifungal medications, particularly St John’s wort, it is also important to ask for advice; your doctor may recommend not taking said medication or using an alternative emergency contraceptive treatment.
If you intend to regularly have unprotected sex, then it is essential to book an appointment with a GP or sexual health clinic to ensure that you have the most appropriate long-term contraceptive for you.
How Can You Get Emergency Contraception?
There are several places where you can get emergency contraception, including at our pharmacy via an online consultation.
Once you fill this out and our certified pharmacists check against your medical history to ensure this is the right medication for you, we will send your prescription to your preferred pharmacy branch, where you will be notified when it will be ready to collect.
In the case of emergency contraception, there is typically as little delay as possible to maximise its effectiveness at stopping pregnancy.
Alongside our pharmacy and via a prescription at a GP’s office, emergency contraceptive medicine is also available at sexual health clinics, young people’s services, school nurses, A&E departments at hospitals, walk-in centres and minor injuries units.
Why Is It Available Without A Prescription?
It is similar to naloxone in that it is a prescription medicine available without a prescription because time affects its effectiveness.
It is essential to make it as easy to access as possible, and this means balancing availability with safety requires a different approach to either making it available over-the-counter or exclusively via prescription.
Are There Any Other Emergency Contraceptive Methods?
The other emergency contraceptive method that is available is an intrauterine device (IUD) or copper coil, which works by thinning the lining of the womb, stopping an egg from attaching to it, as well as acting as a type of spermicide to stop sperm from reaching an egg in the first place.
They have to be fitted by a doctor or trained nurse, but can also protect against pregnancy for up to ten years, so they can be an option if you intend to regularly have unprotected sex with a partner who has been tested for STIs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Many NHS sexual health clinics and some community pharmacies provide emergency contraception free of charge. Availability varies by area. Private pharmacies can also supply emergency contraception following a confidential consultation.
It may. Your next period could arrive earlier or later than expected and may be lighter or heavier than usual. If your period is more than seven days late, unusually light, or you have symptoms of pregnancy, you should take a pregnancy test and seek medical advice.
Yes. Emergency contraception can be used more than once if needed. However, it should not be relied upon as a regular method of contraception. If you find yourself needing emergency contraception repeatedly, speak to a pharmacist or clinician about a more reliable ongoing contraceptive method.