Emergency Contraception

Despite being known as 'the morning after pill', current guidelines from the FPA (Family Planning Association) state that 'the morning after pill' can be taken within 72 hours of intercourse. It is, however, significantly more effective if taken within the first 24 hours. It is therefore important that you act quickly.

The morning after pill can be pretty hard on your system, and may induce nausea and your period may become irregular for a short time. However, as long as you do not use it regularly the threat to your health is minimal. Remember that emergency contraception offers no protection from Sexually Transmitted Infections, so if you have had unprotected sex you may wish to consider having a sexual health check-up at The Laurels.

Emergency Contraception is occasionally known as 'Levonelle' or 'Levonelle One Step'. This is the brand that makes the emergency contraception pill given out in British pharmacies. There is currently a campaign to call the emergency contraception pill 'Levonelle' in an attempt to make getting hold of emergency contraception less embarrassing for those who might otherwise be put off. The 'Levonelle' website gives some good information on how the pill works, when you can take it and any side effects.

Where can I get it from?

There are three types of places you can access emergency contraception, and you should use whichever you feel most comfortable with:

Certain pharmacies now give out emergency contraception for free, so long as you are registered at a Cambridge GP Practice. The procedure is fairly easy, you go to the pharmacy, ask to talk to a pharmacist about emergency contraception (or if you prefer, you can say about 'Levonelle'). The pharmacist will then ask you some questions and if appropriate give you the pill as well as information on potential side-effects and problems. The following pharmacies are part of this scheme:

Boots, Newmarket Road
Boots, Cherry Hinton Road
Boots, Grafton Centre
Boots, Petty Cury
Kays Chemist, Wulfstan Way
Lloyds, Arbury Court
Lloyds, Trumpington Street
Co-operative, Barnwell Road
Superdrug, Fitzroy Street
Superdrug, Sidney Street

Other pharmacies will give you the same information and ask the same questions but you will have to pay for the pill. It usually costs about £25.

You can also get a free prescription from your GP or the local Family Planning Clinic, (the Laurels). The doctor or nurse will talk you through some questions to decide if emergency contraception is the right choice for you, and also talk about side-effects, contraception and any emotions you might be feeling. You will then get a prescription which you will then have to take to a pharmacy, but without having to pay the charge. Finally, it is also available out of hours from Addenbrooke's A&E department.

Alternatives

If you have had unprotected sex and are worried about pregnancy but do not want to take emergency contraception pill, or if is inappropriate for you (for example, more than 72 hours have passed) you can have an IUD (intrauterine device) fitted. It can be fitted up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex.

The IUD (or the coil) is a small T-shaped frame with a thin copper coil around the stem which is inserted into the neck of the womb. It has to be fitted by a trained healthcare professional. It is normally used as a method of long-term birth control but can also be used to prevent pregnancy in an emergency.