Emergency contraception

To discuss your options over the phone, please call 01793 604038.

If you've had unprotected sex, that is, sex without using contraception, or think your contraception might have failed, you can use emergency contraception.

Emergency contraception can be very effective, but it’s not as effective as using other methods of contraception regularly.

There are different types of emergency contraception:

• The emergency copper intrauterine device (IUD).
• An emergency contraceptive pill with the active ingredient ulipristal acetate (UPA). ellaOne is currently the only brand available in the UK.
• An emergency contraceptive pill with the hormone levonorgestrel. There are different brands – the most common one is Levonelle.

An emergency contraceptive pill needs to be taken as soon as possible after sex to have the best chance of working.

Local pharmacies can provide emergency contraceptive pills at no charge, find a pharmacy near you.