If you have had sex without contraception, including the withdrawal method, or think your method might have failed, there are three different types of emergency contraception you can use. Timing is important and the sooner you have emergency contraception the more effective it is.

Clinic staff will be happy to help with this and will also advise on restarting your contraception or choosing the right contraception for you to reduce your future unwanted pregnancy risk. The staff will also advise you about when to return for pregnancy and STI testing and how to protect yourself in the future.

A Copper IUD is the most effective emergency contraeption and can be fitted up to five days after sex, or up to five days after the earliest time you could have released an egg (ovulation). It can be removed after your next period or if you have started other contraception, or can be left in place as your long term ‘fit and forget’ contraception. Please see the clinic doctors or your GP for this option.

Click here to find out more about the Copper IUD on our Contraception page

An emergency contraceptive pill containing ulipristal acetate – can be taken up to five days (120 hours) after sex. This is available from the Choices clinic, Orchard clinic, with a prescription from your GP or to buy from a pharmacy. ellaOne is the only brand available in the UK. It can affect your ongoing contraception and we recommend you seek advice about starting or restarting your long term contraception and when you will be protected. ellaOne does NOT provide contraception from unprotected sex after taking it.

An emergency contraceptive pill containing levonorgestrel – commonly called the “morning after pill”, can be taken up to three days (72 hours) after sex. Some women may need to take 2 of these pills for clinical reasons such as raised weight/BMI or other medications being taken. It is more effective the earlier it is taken after unprotected sex. This is available from Choices, the Orchard Centre, your GP can give you a prescription or you can buy it from a pharmacy. We recommend seeking advice about starting or restarting your long term contraception and knowing when you will be protected against pregnancy. The LNG pill does NOT provide contraception from unprotected sex after taking it.

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