Treatments
Request emergency contraception online, including the morning after pill. A UK-registered clinician reviews your request quickly, with discreet UK delivery if suitable.
Introduction
Emergency contraception can reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraception failure. It is time-critical — the sooner it is taken, the more effective it is likely to be.
Private Pharmacy Care can supply emergency contraceptive pills such as levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate (ellaOne) after a clinician or pharmacist review, where appropriate.
Emergency pills do not protect against sexually transmitted infections and are not for regular contraception.
The condition
Emergency contraception reduces the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex or when contraception has failed — for example a split condom, missed pills, or expelled contraceptive device. It is time-critical: the sooner it is used, the more likely it is to work, but it is not 100% effective and it will not end an established pregnancy.
In the UK, oral options are levonorgestrel, licensed up to 72 hours after sex, and ulipristal acetate, licensed up to 120 hours. A copper intrauterine device (IUD) fitted by a clinic is the most effective method and can often be fitted up to 5 days after sex or after the earliest expected ovulation.
Private Pharmacy Care can supply an emergency contraceptive pill after a clinician or pharmacist review where it is appropriate, with discreet delivery. Completing a consultation does not guarantee supply. Emergency pills do not protect against sexually transmitted infections and are not a regular contraceptive method. Always read the patient information leaflet.
Symptoms
There is no symptom you wait for. You request emergency contraception because of a risk of pregnancy, not because you feel unwell. Still, tell us about pain, bleeding, or possible pregnancy symptoms already present.
Causes
The “cause” is a chance that sperm could meet an egg this cycle. Details about timing, your usual method, body weight and other medicines change which oral option, if any, is suitable.
Treatments
This is a guide to licensed UK emergency methods. A clinician or pharmacist decides which option, if any, to supply. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a medicine. A copper IUD is the most effective method and is fitted in a clinic, not posted.
Products
ellaOne (ulipristal acetate 30mg) emergency contraception. Use within 5 days of unprotected sex. Do not use while breastfeeding.…
Levonelle branded levonorgestrel emergency contraception. Take within 72 hours of unprotected sex — more effective within 12 hours.…
Levonorgestrel 1.5mg emergency contraception. Take within 72 hours of unprotected sex — more effective within 12 hours. £15.…
Benefits
Two oral options are commonly used in the UK. Which one is suitable depends on how long it has been since sex, your weight or BMI, other medicines, and whether you have already had a pill this cycle.
Levonorgestrel is licensed up to 72 hours after sex; ulipristal up to 120 hours. Sooner is better for both.
Complete a short consultation without waiting for a routine GP appointment.
We explain vomiting, repeat sex, ongoing contraception and when a pregnancy test is needed.
A copper IUD fitted by a clinic is the most effective emergency method. We will say if you should seek that instead or as well.
Eligibility
You need to tell us when sex happened, your usual contraception, other medicines (including enzyme inducers), and whether there is any chance you are already pregnant.
A clinician decides whether treatment is appropriate. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Start a consultation
Start a short consultation. Timing matters — request a review as soon as you can after unprotected sex.
How it works
Emergency pills work mainly by delaying or preventing ovulation. They are less likely to work if you have already ovulated. They will not end an established pregnancy. A copper IUD can be fitted up to 5 days after sex or ovulation and is the most effective method.
Answer a short, confidential questionnaire about your symptoms, medical history and current medicines.
A UK-registered clinician reviews your answers to check the treatment is safe and appropriate for you.
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses the medicine and sends it in discreet UK packaging.
Questions after you start treatment? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
Safety
If you vomit within the time stated in the leaflet (often 3 hours), you may need another dose — contact us immediately.
Ulipristal and levonorgestrel are not used together in the same episode. Breastfeeding advice differs by product — follow the leaflet.
Side effects
Short-term side effects are common and usually settle quickly. Your next period may come early or late.
Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Using treatment
Take the tablet as soon as it is supplied, unless you have been told to wait (for example because of another medicine). Always read the patient information leaflet. The steps below are general.
Do not delay until the end of the licensed window if you already have the tablet. It can be taken with or without food unless the leaflet says otherwise.
If vomiting happens within the time in the leaflet, the dose may not have worked. Contact us or a pharmacist immediately. Do not keep repeating doses without advice.
Further unprotected sex can still lead to pregnancy. Ulipristal can reduce the effect of hormonal contraception for a short time — extra precautions are often needed as the leaflet describes.
A bleed may come early or late. Test if your period is more than 7 days late, is unusually light, or you have pregnancy symptoms. Test about 3 weeks after the episode if you are unsure.
Safety netting
Nausea and a change in when your next period arrives are common. Severe pain is not a normal after-effect and can be a sign of ectopic pregnancy, which is an emergency.
Common questions
Tap a question to see the answer. If you still need help, our team is ready to assist.
That depends on timing, your BMI or weight, other medicines and clinical judgement. Ulipristal is often preferred later in the window or at higher body weight, but a clinician decides.
Yes in many cases, but missed pills and restart rules matter. Tell us exactly what happened so advice is accurate. Ulipristal can interact with hormonal contraception for a short time.
No. Emergency contraceptive pills do not reduce long-term fertility.
Yes if your next period is late, very light, or you have pregnancy symptoms. Test about 3 weeks after the episode if unsure.
Emergency contraception does not treat infections. Consider screening after unprotected sex — a sexual health clinic can help.
Why choose us
A regulated UK pharmacy service with clinician review, discreet delivery and support if you have questions after treatment is supplied.
Every request is reviewed by a UK-registered clinician before a medicine can be prescribed.
Complete a private questionnaire from home. Your information is used to check that treatment is safe and appropriate.
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses it and sends it in plain packaging.
We ask about your symptoms, medical history and other medicines. Completing a form does not guarantee a prescription.
Questions about side effects or how to take a medicine? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
Private Pharmacy Care is a UK pharmacy service. Named clinicians and public register details are listed on our clinical team page.
Sources
This page is general information for UK patients. It is not a substitute for the patient information leaflet or personalised clinical advice.
Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC), commonly referred to as the morning-after pill, is a form of birth control intended for use following unprotected sexual intercourse or in the event of a failure of a regular contraceptive method, such as a broken condom, to avert pregnancy.
EHC primarily functions by delaying or inhibiting ovulation, the process in which an egg is released from the ovary. This mechanism decreases the likelihood of sperm encountering an egg, thereby preventing fertilization. EHC is most effective when administered promptly following unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure.
It is important to note that EHC does not terminate an existing pregnancy and is ineffective if ovulation has already taken place. Additionally, EHC does not offer protection against sexually transmitted infections and is not designed for regular contraceptive use.
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