Got a question about contraception? You're in the right place.
You can also view some great videos on the Contraception Choices website
You can get free contraception, including emergency contraception, from:
- most general practices
- a contraception clinic or a sexual health clinic
- a young people’s service (these will have an upper age limit)
- some online services (see below, Getting contraception online).
You can also get emergency contraceptive pills free from:
- some pharmacies
- some genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
- most NHS walk-in centres (England only)
- most NHS minor injuries units
- some hospital accident and emergency departments (phone first to check).
You can buy emergency contraceptive pills from most pharmacies including many online pharmacies. Some pharmacies may offer a click and collect service so you can order online and collect from a shop on the same day.
You must be 16 or over to buy pills with levonorgestrel, and 18 or over to buy pills from an online pharmacy.
Pills with ulipristal acetate cost around £20-£35 and pills with the hormone levonorgestrel cost around £10-£27. Find out more about the different types of emergency contraception.
Pharmacies may also sell condoms, internal condoms, diaphragms and spermicide.
The National Sexual Health Helpline provides confidential advice and information on all aspects of sexual health. The number is 0300 123 7123. It’s open Monday to Friday from 9am-8pm and at weekends from 11am-4pm.
You can find details of contraception and sexual health clinics and services, and details of general practices and pharmacies on these websites:
- England, www.nhs.uk
- Wales at www.111.wales.nhs.uk.
- Scotland, www.nhsinform.scot.
- Northern Ireland, www.sexualhealthni.info and www.hscni.net.
- Get details of Brook young people’s services from the Brook website.
The Sexual Health Helpline provides confidential advice and information on all aspects of sexual health. The number is 0300 123 7123. It’s open Monday to Friday from 9am-8pm.
Contraception clinics sometimes provide far more than contraception. This may include:
- checks for sexually transmitted infections
- pre-pregnancy advice/pregnancy testing
- help and advice on an unplanned pregnancy (including abortion, adoption and continuing the pregnancy)
- safer sex advice
- advice on sexual problems
- cervical screening tests (smear tests) and breast awareness
- menopause advice
- infertility advice.
Sex without using contraception can put you at risk of pregnancy at any time during the menstrual cycle. It's a myth that you can't get pregnant if you have sex when you're on your period.
You can use emergency contraception up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Emergency contraception is more effective at preventing pregnancy the earlier it's used.
Sex without using a condom can put you at greater risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
More about STIs including symptoms, tests and treatment.
No. If you're under 16 you can get confidential advice and contraception, including emergency contraception.
Health workers (nurses, doctors and pharmacists) work under very specific guidance with this age group.
You must be mature enough to understand the advice and any decisions made about giving you contraception.
Health workers (doctors, nurses and pharmacists) have to keep anything you tell them private but they'll usually encourage you to talk to a parent or carer.
If a health worker thinks there's a risk to your health, safety or welfare they might need to share your information with someone else. The risk would need to be serious and the health worker would usually discuss this with you first.
It's an offence for anyone to have any sexual activity with a person under the age of 16.
The law isn't intended to criminalise mutually agreed sexual activity between two young people of similar age and understanding, unless it involves abuse, exploitation or harm.
Young people have the right to access confidential advice on contraception, including condoms and pregnancy, even if they're under 16.
Brook has advice on sexual health, contraception and your rights as a young person.
You can choose to buy contraceptive pills - including emergency contraception - online. You’ll need to give some personal and medical details and may also need an online or phone consultation. Only buy contraception from websites authorised and verified by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). See gov.uk/check-medicines-online
In some areas of the UK, you can get free contraceptive pills - including emergency contraception - online from services like SH:24.
This website can only give you general information about contraception.
Contact your doctor, practice nurse or a contraception clinic if you're worried or unsure about anything.