Sexual health
Emergency Contraception
Condoms burst, pills get missed or we have sex without a condom and regret it later.
Luckily, it’s possible to get emergency contraception that will work to stop pregnancy after you’ve had sex.
BUT Emergency contraception should never be used as an alternative to normal contraception.
There are three types of emergency contraception.
- A special type of oral pill is available from doctors, community pharmacies and sexual health clinics. Many people call this the ‘morning after pill’. These must be taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex.
- If it is over 72 hours (3 days) since you had unprotected sex, but within 5 days, contact your local sexual health clinic or GP where they can discuss with you the option of getting Ellaone. Ellaone is a new emergency contraceptive pill that can be used to prevent pregnancy up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex.
- An Interuterine Device (IUD) can also be fitted up to five days after having unprotected sex.
All three types of emergency contraception offer no protection against sexually transmitted infections.Emergency Contraception is available free from your GP, pharmacies, & sexual health clinics across Tayside & the Western Isles.