The Emergency Contraceptive Pill: The Morning After Pill

There is also a type of contraception called emergency contraception that can be used after unprotected sex, to protect you from pregnancy. There are two methods of emergency contraception:

• a type of pill – often called ‘the morning after pill‘: this name is a bit misleading as you can actually take some types up to five days after unprotected sex. 
• the intrauterine device (IUD): the IUD is designed to stop an egg from implanting in your uterus (womb) and can be fitted by a specially trained doctor or nurse within five days of unprotected sex. 

Remember that if you have unprotected sex, this always puts you at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Contraception is free on the NHS for all ages so you won’t have to pay anything. You can get it from a range of places including Brook services, other young people’s services, GP surgeries, GUM or sexual health clinics and family planning services.