Emergency contraceptive pill

The emergency pill can stop pregnancy after sex if you’ve had sex without contraception or where your contraception failed. It’s also known as the morning-after pill. There are 2 types available, levonorgestrel (the 72 hour pill) and ulipristal acetate (the 120 hour pill). The sooner you take it, the more likely it is to work. 

Did you know… The non-hormonal coil (copper coil) is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy after sex, if you get one fitted in the 5 days after unprotected sex or within 5 days of ovulation. You’ll need to go to a clinic or your GP to have it fitted.

• Under 25s can order free emergency contraception online

• Under 25s can also get free emergency contraception in pharmacies - find an approved pharmacy

• You can get emergency contraception at a sexual health clinic or from your GP

Hormones

1 type of pill contains progestogen.

Frequency

Take after you’ve had unprotected sex. There is no ongoing protection.

STI protection

No

Periods

Can make your period unpredictable after taking.

Getting started

Get it free online or from sexual health clinics and pharmacies. If you’ve taken any hormonal contraception or other emergency contraception recently, let the healthcare professional know. This can affect which emergency contraception you can use.