Emergency contraception
If you’ve had unprotected sex there are methods to help prevent pregnancy. Unprotected sex can include if a condom breaks or slips whilst you are having sex, or having sex with no contraception – or simply by forgetting to take your contraceptive pills.
The sooner you use emergency contraception, the more effective it is.
There are two types of emergency contraception:
- emergency contraception pills (also known as the morning-after pill) – works by stopping you producing an egg (ovulation)
- Copper coil (IUD) – works by preventing a fertilised egg from implanting in the womb (uterus).
- The Copper IUD can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
- There are 2 emergency contraceptive pills:
- pills with levonorgestrel (brands include Levonelle): you need to take this pill within 3 days (72 hours) after sex
- pills with ulipristal acetate (brands include ellaOne): you need to take this pill within 5 days (120 hours) after sex
After using emergency contraception, you should do a pregnancy test 3 weeks after the unprotected sex to check you are not pregnant.
- Emergency contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) so it’s best to also test for STIs after unprotected sex.
- If you vomit within three hours of taking the emergency contraception pill then it may not be effective.
Emergency contraception pills are available from:
- Sexual health clinics
- Some GPs
- Some Pharmacies – without needing an appointment or prescription
You can search for emergency contraception services near you on the NHS website.
The emergency contraceptive pill is most effective when taken within the first 12 hours.
Its effectiveness can be reduced if you vomit within three hours of taking it.
Copper IUDs have to fitted by trained medical staff and are only available from sexual health clinics and GPs.
You can find your nearest GP or sexual health clinic using our find a service tool.
