What is Emergency Hormonal Contraception?
Emergency Hormonal Contraception, also known as “the morning after pill”, can be taken within 3-5 days of unprotected sex and will prevent pregnancy by preventing implantation of a fertilised egg into the uterus.
Who should take emergency hormonal contraception?
If you had sex without using contraception, or if your contraception failed, you might want to consider taking emergency hormonal contraception. Examples might be:
- Your condom broke during sex
- You forgot to take your usual contraceptive pills
- You are taking medication that may have interfered with regular pill effectiveness
How do I obtain emergency hormonal contraception?
All you need to do is contact one of our pharmacists, who will have a brief, friendly and discreet chat with you that will help determine whether the morning after pill is the best course of action for you.
Emergency Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
You have two options you can trust:
ellaOne: considered the most effective pill and can be taken with 5 days of unprotected sex.
Levonorgestrel (or Levonelle): can be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. There are drawbacks to this, and two tablets are needed for women over 70kg or on certain medications.
Who should not take emergency hormonal contraception
- If you have allergies to any ingredients in the pill ·
- If you are taking any medications with contraindications (epilepsy, HIV and TB meds; rifabutin or rifampicin)
- If you are taking herbal supplements with contraindications (St. John’s Wort)
In the cases of the medications above, ellaOne cannot be used, as it won’t work. However Levonelle may still be used, but may need to have the dosage increased. Anna Pharmacy now offers emergency hormonal contraceptives and counselling should you need it regarding your decision in Sutton, Carshalton and Hackbridge.
