Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex. You can also use it if something goes wrong with your usual contraception (for example if a condom breaks).
There are two types of emergency contraception: the emergency contraceptive pill (also known as the morning after pill or plan B) or a copper IUD. The IUD is a t-shaped coil that goes into the womb.
The emergency contraceptive pill must be taken within 3-5 days of unprotected sex, depending on the type of pill. The sooner you take it after having unprotected sex the more effective it is.
For the copper IUD to work as emergency contraception it must be fitted within five days of unprotected sex.
This can depend on where you live. In some places you can buy emergency contraceptive pills from pharmacists. Other places you may need to contact a healthcare professional.
The cost of the morning after pill will depend on where you live. Sometimes it’s available for free through your healthcare provider.
If you decide to use an IUD for emergency contraception it has to be fitted by a trained healthcare professional within five days of unprotected sex.
It contains hormones that temporarily stop or delay the release of an egg (ovulation), which prevents pregnancy.
Although they aren't designed as regular birth control, it is safe to use the morning after pill more than once in a menstrual cycle if you need to. But there has to be at least a five-day gap or both pills might not work.
The success rate of the morning after pill depends on when you take it.
If you take the morning after pill within 24 hours (1 day) of having sex, it’s estimated to be 95% effective. It’s 85% effective between 25-48 hours after unprotected sex, and it’s 58% effective 49-72 hours after sex.
It is safe to use the morning after pill more than once in a menstrual cycle if you need to. But there has to be at least a five-day gap between pills, or they might not work.
You should not use the morning after pill as your normal contraception. There are other methods of contraception that are better for regular use.
The morning after pill is very safe and rarely has serious side effects. The most common side effects are:
• headaches
• stomach cramps (similar to period pains)
• feeling sick.
If you vomit within two hours of taking the morning after pill, it might not work. You will need to take another pill. Speak to a healthcare provider for more advice.
Advantages include:
Disadvantages include:
As well as accessing emergency contraception, it’s a good idea to test for STIs, including HIV. It’s also worth thinking about what kind of birth control would be best for you in the future.
Here are a few questions to help kick-off discussions on the issues you need to talk about! You can share them on social, on WhatsApp or just get talking.
The morning after pill does not affect your ability to get pregnant in the future.
If you use an IUD as emergency contraception, it will prevent pregnancy for as long as you keep it in (for up to five years).
The morning after pill is different from the abortion pill. Emergency contraception stops an egg being released so it can’t be fertilised, and this prevents a pregnancy from happening. An abortion ends a pregnancy that has already happened.
Emergency contraception won’t work if someone is already pregnant, and it won’t harm an existing pregnancy.
No – homemade contraceptives of any kind don’t work and they can be dangerous. There is also no need to do this, as the morning after pill is usually available from pharmacies, sexual health clinics and doctors.
If your period comes around the time that you would expect, this normally means that you’re not pregnant.
However, if your period is lighter or shorter than usual, then you should take a pregnancy test or speak to a healthcare provider.
The best thing you can do is to give them clear and accurate information, which you can find on this page.
When you think the time is right you could also talk to them about their birth control options.
Remember, the most effective way to support someone who is thinking about using any form of birth control is to respect their decisions, be open and do not judge.
If they feel embarrassed about discussing sex with you, give them details of a friendly healthcare professional, a helpline or factual online resources, like this website.
Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex. You can also use it if something goes wrong with your usual contraception (for example if a condom breaks).
There are two types of emergency contraception: the emergency contraceptive pill (also known as the morning after pill or plan B) or a copper IUD. The IUD is a t-shaped coil that goes into the womb.
The emergency contraceptive pill must be taken within 3-5 days of unprotected sex, depending on the type of pill. The sooner you take it after having unprotected sex the more effective it is.
For the copper IUD to work as emergency contraception it must be fitted within five days of unprotected sex.
This can depend on where you live. In some places you can buy emergency contraceptive pills from pharmacists. Other places you may need to contact a healthcare professional.
The cost of the morning after pill will depend on where you live. Sometimes it’s available for free through your healthcare provider.
If you decide to use an IUD for emergency contraception it has to be fitted by a trained healthcare professional within five days of unprotected sex.
It contains hormones that temporarily stop or delay the release of an egg (ovulation), which prevents pregnancy.
Although they aren't designed as regular birth control, it is safe to use the morning after pill more than once in a menstrual cycle if you need to. But there has to be at least a five-day gap or both pills might not work.
The success rate of the morning after pill depends on when you take it.
If you take the morning after pill within 24 hours (1 day) of having sex, it’s estimated to be 95% effective. It’s 85% effective between 25-48 hours after unprotected sex, and it’s 58% effective 49-72 hours after sex.
It is safe to use the morning after pill more than once in a menstrual cycle if you need to. But there has to be at least a five-day gap between pills, or they might not work.
You should not use the morning after pill as your normal contraception. There are other methods of contraception that are better for regular use.
The morning after pill is very safe and rarely has serious side effects. The most common side effects are:
• headaches
• stomach cramps (similar to period pains)
• feeling sick.
If you vomit within two hours of taking the morning after pill, it might not work. You will need to take another pill. Speak to a healthcare provider for more advice.
Advantages include:
Disadvantages include:
As well as accessing emergency contraception, it’s a good idea to test for STIs, including HIV. It’s also worth thinking about what kind of birth control would be best for you in the future.
Here are a few questions to help kick-off discussions on the issues you need to talk about! You can share them on social, on WhatsApp or just get talking.
The morning after pill does not affect your ability to get pregnant in the future.
If you use an IUD as emergency contraception, it will prevent pregnancy for as long as you keep it in (for up to five years).
The morning after pill is different from the abortion pill. Emergency contraception stops an egg being released so it can’t be fertilised, and this prevents a pregnancy from happening. An abortion ends a pregnancy that has already happened.
Emergency contraception won’t work if someone is already pregnant, and it won’t harm an existing pregnancy.
No – homemade contraceptives of any kind don’t work and they can be dangerous. There is also no need to do this, as the morning after pill is usually available from pharmacies, sexual health clinics and doctors.
If your period comes around the time that you would expect, this normally means that you’re not pregnant.
However, if your period is lighter or shorter than usual, then you should take a pregnancy test or speak to a healthcare provider.
The best thing you can do is to give them clear and accurate information, which you can find on this page.
When you think the time is right you could also talk to them about their birth control options.
Remember, the most effective way to support someone who is thinking about using any form of birth control is to respect their decisions, be open and do not judge.
If they feel embarrassed about discussing sex with you, give them details of a friendly healthcare professional, a helpline or factual online resources, like this website.
