The morning after pill stops the occurrence of pregnancy after unprotected sex. Therefore, one may also take it when another form of contraception fails to work correctly – for example, a condom breaking. Are you in need of free emergency hormonal contraception in Birmingham? At Towerhill Pharmacy, our pharmacist will not only advise but also make sure you access this service easily.

There are 2 kinds of emergency hormonal contraception available:

– Levonelle and ellaOne pills
– Intra-Uterine Device (IUD)

Facts about free emergency hormonal contraception

Take the morning after pills immediately or within 3 days (Levonelle) or 5 days (ellaOne) after unprotected intercourse. The soonest time you take the pill, the higher its chances of effectiveness.

Taking either Levonelle or ellaOne pills can lead to a headache or abdominal pain. As a result, you may feel sick.

The pill may also interfere with your next period; it can either come earlier, later or be more painful than usual.

How do the pills work?

Levonelle

Levonelle contains levonorgestrel. This is a synthetic version of progesterone, the natural hormone which is produced by the ovaries.

The pill, therefore, delays or stops the occurrence of ovulation.

To stop pregnancy, take Levonelle within 72 hours (3 days). Nevertheless, it doesn’t interfere with other forms of contraception.

ellaOne

ellaOne contains ulipristal acetate. This interferes with progesterone’s normal functioning. It also delays or stops ovulation.

Use ellaOne within 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex to stop pregnancy.

The emergency hormonal contraceptives only stop pregnancy. Therefore, it does not offer protection against Sexually Transmitted Infection(STIs) for instance, Chlamydia, HIV, or Genital Warts.

Side effects of using the emergency hormonal contraception

Although there are no serious or lengthy side effects of using emergency contraception, it can cause:

– Headaches
– Abdominal pain
– Changes to your next period
– Feeling sick

Immediately visit your GP or pharmacist in case your symptoms don’t go away after a few days.

Where can I get the free emergency hormonal contraception?

Get the free morning-after pill from:

– Contraception clinics
– Brook centres
– Most pharmacies, including Towerhill Pharmacy 🙂
– Most sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
– NHS walk-in centres and minor injuries units
– Most GP surgeries (find a GP)
– Some hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments

At Towerhill Pharmacy, our pharmacist will not only discuss but also advise you on the best choice of emergency contraception, privately and confidentially

Use the calendar below to book an appointment