If you have had unprotected sex and you are concerned about the possibility of getting pregnant, you have emergency contraception options that will allow you to take control. Getting the right contraception for you is easy with the help of your local pharmacy, health provider, or Sexual Wellbeing Clinic.
Today, the team at Life Pharmacy are unpacking your emergency contraception options, what these options do (and don’t do), and what options are available if you have missed the window for an ECP.
Before we dive in: Emergency contraception is most effective when taken as soon as possible following unprotected sex. If you are not intending to become pregnant, make sure to move quickly when selecting from your options and ask any questions you have as you go. Your healthcare providers are here to help you make the best choice for you.
Your Emergency Contraception Options:
There are two types of emergency contraception you can access: the emergency contraceptive pill (a.k.a. the morning after pill, or Plan B) and a copper IUD.
The Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP)
The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) – also known as a morning after pill or Plan B – is a pill designed to prevent a potential pregnancy by delaying the release of an egg from your ovary until any sperm that can fertilise the egg are gone. It’s taken just like any other tablet, and people of any age can access this pill over-the-counter at your local pharmacy, through your GP, or at one of the many Sexual Wellbeing Clinics across Aotearoa.
This method of emergency contraception is most effective if you take it as soon as possible after having unprotected sex. Within 24 hours is the ideal window. The ECP will not prevent pregnancy if you take it any later than 3 days after having unprotected sex.
At Life Pharmacy, we offer a fast and discreet service to help you access this form of emergency contraception as soon as possible, ensuring it is most effective. If this is the method you’d like to use, you can walk in or book an appointment with your closest Life Pharmacy today.
A Copper IUD
Copper IUDs are a spermicide, which means they kill any active sperm that enters the body. An IUD will sit at the base of your uterus and provide ongoing contraception rather than a one-off solution; however, it is more complex than an ECP and will need to be placed by your GP, a nurse, or a medical professional at a Sexual Wellbeing Clinic. This is a simple 10-minute procedure; however, it can be uncomfortable for some people.
If this is your preferred option for emergency contraception, the copper IUD needs to be placed within 5 days of having unprotected sex to be effective. For more information on the ongoing contraceptive properties of an IUD as well as what to expect from this option, we recommend getting in touch with your GP or local Sexual Wellbeing Clinic.
A few things to keep in mind:
- If you are over 70kg, a copper IUD is the recommended form of emergency contraception for you, as the ECP would require a double dose, and this is not as effective.
- It is normal to feel slightly sick or experience delayed menstruation after taking the ECP. If you throw up within three hours of taking the pill, you will need another dose (your pharmacist can help with this).
- If your next period is very light or if you do not get it at all, you should take a pregnancy test, regardless of which emergency contraception method you chose.
What Emergency Contraception Does (and Doesn’t) Do:
Both the ECP and the copper IUD are designed to prevent pregnancy, but they don’t address the other risks of having unprotected sex.
Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs)
Emergency contraception methods do not create a physical barrier between you and your partner(s), so they are not effective for stopping the spread of viruses or bacteria. This is why it’s important to get tested and have proper protection, such as condoms and dental dams, with you.
Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) are quite common and generally very treatable. That said, if they are left untreated, some STIs can have long-term health consequences for you and future partners, as well as any potential children you might want to have in the future. Luckily, there are simple, private screenings that can help you identify if you have contracted an STI from unprotected sex.
If you had unprotected sex with a new partner or are having sex with multiple partners (protected or unprotected), it’s important to see your GP or a Sexual Wellbeing Clinic for an STI screening and to chat about your options for long-term contraception and protection.
Unintended Pregnancy
If you are someone who can become pregnant and you have missed the window for prevention following unprotected sex, emergency contraception options like a copper IUD or the ECP will no longer work to prevent pregnancy.
Accessing emergency contraception quickly and discreetly is the best way to prevent an unintended pregnancy, and we always recommend getting an STI panel to make sure you, your current partner(s), and any future partners are as safe as possible.
If you have any questions about this process or what to do next, please reach out to the Life Pharmacy team for assistance.
Get emergency contraception quickly and discreetly at Life Pharmacy.
Our team of Life Pharmacy experts are here to help you access the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) quickly and discreetly. You don’t need a prescription, just come along to one of our pharmacies as soon as possible and speak to one of our trained pharmacists in private.
Walk into a registered Life Pharmacy branch or book with us today.
