Emergency contraception can stop a pregnancy happening after sex without contraception, if contraception fails or it is used incorrectly.
There are two emergency contraception options:
- Emergency IUD (copper coil)
- Emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) – sometimes known as ‘the morning after pill’
It is best to access emergency contraception as soon as possible after unprotected sex.
The healthcare professional you see for emergency contraception will assess whether you need it, and which method(s) are most suitable for you.
Emergency IUD
An emergency IUD (copper coil) stops an egg implanting. It can be fitted for many days after unprotected sex/contraception failure, depending on where you are in your cycle (sometimes it is too late or not suitable to fit an emergency IUD). This requires a short genital procedure to fit the coil.
After fitting, the IUD can either be removed once pregnancy is ruled out (approximately 3 weeks) or can be kept in to act as a long term contraceptive, preventing unplanned pregnancy for up to 10 years.
Emergency hormonal contraception (EHC)
Emergency hormonal contraception (often referred to as ‘the morning after pill’) is a pill you can take after unprotected sex. It reduces the chance of pregnancy by preventing or delaying ovulation. This relies on you taking the pill before you have ovulated; if the pill is taken after this time it will not be effective. It does not end an existing pregnancy and is not the same as pills for a termination.
Despite being known as ‘the morning after pill’, EHC can be taken up to 5 days after having unprotected sex, depending on the kind of pill you take.
There are two kinds of emergency contraceptive pill – Levonelle is usually taken within 72 hours (three days) of unprotected sex, and ellaOne is usually within 120 hours (five days) of sex. The sooner you take emergency hormonal contraception after unprotected sex, the more effective it is.
Where can I get emergency contraception?
If you would like an emergency IUD please contact us by telephone on 0808 178 0955 (or 0300 404 2996 for Shropshire) as soon as possible after unprotected sex OR attend one of our walk-in clinics, and request an assessment for emergency contraception. After your clinical assessment, an emergency coil (if suitable), may not be fitted on the same day; this depends on availability of staff and each person’s clinical details . Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that all emergency coils can be fitted in our service.
Some, but not all, GPs fit emergency IUDs.
EHC (pill) can be accessed at all GPs, sexual health clinics, some community pharmacies (see below) and school nurses. EHC can only be given to the person it is for, so you can’t pick up EHC for anyone else, even if it is for your sexual partner.Â
Emergency contraception is free when provided under the NHS. There are also paid options available (e.g. online pharmacy chains).
What will they ask me when I go to get emergency contraception?
When you see a healthcare professional for emergency contraception you will be asked:
- When you have had unprotected sex in your current menstrual cycle
- The date of the first day of your last period
- The usual length of your cycle
- Details of any contraceptive failure (e.g. missed pills, expired coil/implant, late contraceptive injection, condom accident)
- If you’ve used any medications that may affect your contraception
- Any recent vomiting or diarrhoea
All the information you give is confidential.
After taking emergency contraception
We advise that you test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), click here to find out more about STI testing. This needs to be done at least 2 weeks after the unprotected sex. It is advised that you check a home pregnancy test 3 weeks after unprotected sex.
Find out more about how to get a free supply of condoms with our C-Card.
Consider accessing a regular method of contraception; take a look at the different options and where to access them on our Contraception page. Often, this can be started at the same time you take EHC.
Pharmacies that provide EHC
Stoke-on-Trent
School Nurses
If you attend a Stoke on Trent high school, college or Pupil Referral Unit then the School Nursing team can be contacted on 0300 124 0362 or text 07520 615723 for support with emergency contraception.
Pharmacies
We strongly advise calling the pharmacy in advance to ensure that a pharmacist who can provide free emergency hormonal contraception is present.
Asda Pharmacy, Scotia Road, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 6AT
01782 820010
Blurton Pharmacy, 7 Ingestre Square, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 3JT
01782 314408
Boots Bentilee, Bentilee District Centre, Dawlish Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 0EU
01782 212667
Boots Festival Park, Festival Retail Park, Unit 5 Ridgehouse Dr, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5SJ
01782 284125
Boots Hanley, 3-5 Upper Mkt Sq, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1PZ
01782 213271
Burslem Pharmacy, Lucie Wedgwood Health Centre, Chapel Ln, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 2AB
01782 814197
Derby Street Pharmacy, 17 Derby St, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 3LE
01782 215215
Eaton Park Pharmacy, 2 Southall Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 9LT
01782 215599
Grahams Pharmacy, 99 Ford Green Road, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 1NT
01782 834094
Hartshill Pharmacy, Unit 1 Ashwell Rd, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6AT
01782 616601
Weston Road Pharmacy, Meir Primary Care Centre, Weston Road, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 6AB
01782 323910
Heron Cross Pharmacy, 2 Duke Street, Heron Cross, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 3BL
01782 319204
Lloyds Pharmacy, 128 Werrington Road, Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 9AJ
01782 219830
Jhoots Pharmacy, 29 Derby Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 3LE
01782 212682
Jhoots Pharmacy, Shelton Health Centre, Norfolk Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 4PB
01782 285661
Cobridge Pharmacy, Elder Rd, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 2JE
01782 268009
Fenton Pharmacy, Fenton Health Centre, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 3AQ
01782 847356
Meir Hay Pharmacy, Unit 3, Amison Street, Meir Hay, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 1LD
01782 593033
Middleport Pharmacy, 185 Newcastle Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 3QJ
01782 818494
Millers Chemist, 114 Belgrave Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4LR
01782 314814
Cornwells Chemist Ltd., 1375 Leek Road, Abbey Hulton, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 8BW
01782 534422
Miltons Chemist Campbell Place, 15-19 Campbell Place, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1NH
01782 848377
Miltons Pharmacy, 29 Millrise Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 7BN
01782 534416
Morrisons Pharmacy – Festival Park, Morrisons Supermarket, Ridgehouse Drive, Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5NY
01782 265751
Norfolk Street Pharmacy, 1-5 Norfolk Street, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 4PB
01782 272027
Well Pharmacy, Jamage Rd, Talke Pits, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 1QD
01782 773528
Packmoor Pharmacy, 1 Samuel Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 4SR
01782 777892
Queen Street Pharmacy, 36-38 Queen Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 3EQ
01782 839592
Ridgways Chemist, 73 Baddeley Green Lane, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 7JL
01782 534089
Sneyd Green Pharmacy, 72-74 Milton Road, Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 6HD
01782 212735
Tesco Pharmacy In-store Hanley, Clough St, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 4LS
01782 456232
Trentham Pharmacy, 17 Werburgh Drive, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 8JT
01782 657183
Allied Pharmacy Trentham Rd, 39 Trentham Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4DF
01782 316216
Waterloo Pharmacy, 68 The Strand, Longton, Stoke-On-Trent ST3 2NR
01782 342955
Well Pharmacy, Unit 1, Moorland Service Station, Moorland Rd, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 1JP
01782 838350
Well Pharmacy, Anne St, Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 5QJ
01782 783355
Well Pharmacy, 30 Wilson Road, Hanford, ST4 4QQ
01782 657656
Well Pharmacy, Brook Medical Centre, Chell Heath Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 7NN
01782 821146
Well Pharmacy, 688-690 London Road, Oakhill, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 5BA
01782 848332
Well Pharmacy, 792 Uttoxeter Rd, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 7AE
01782 313720
Well Pharmacy, 9-15 Dunning Street, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 5AP
01782 837433
Well Pharmacy, 7-9 New Kingsway, Weston Coyney, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 6NA
01782 312335
Well Pharmacy, 57 Biddulph Road, Chell, Stoke On Trent ST6 6SW
01782 835271
Well Pharmacy, New Street 396 New Street, Biddulph Moor, Stoke-on-Trent ST8 7LR
01782 379206
Well Pharmacy, 21-23 London Road 21-23 London Road, Chesterton ST5 7EA
01782 562239
Staffordshire
See a list of Staffordshire pharmacies that provide free emergency contraception on the Central Health website.
Shropshire
We strongly advise calling the pharmacy in advance to:
– Ensure that a pharmacist who can provide emergency hormonal contraception is present
– Check opening times
Asda Pharmacy
Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury SY3 7ET
01743 276810
Bicton Heath Pharmacy
Unit 2 Bicton Heath Shopping Centre Welshpool Road Bicton Heath Shrewsbury SY3 5AD
01743 249129
Bishops Castle
The Pharmacy, Church Street, Bishops Castle, Shropshire SY9 5AE
01588 638408
Cleobury Pharmacy
Off Vaughan road, Cleobury Mortimer, Kidderminster DY1 48BB
01299 270219
Conway Pharmacy
238 Monkmoor Road, Shrewsbury SY2 5SR
01743 352352
Day Lewis Pharmacy
The Former Ticket Office, the Cross, Gobowen Oswestry SY11 3JS
01691 652377
Day Lewis Pharmacy
Pharmacy at Caxton, Oswald Rd, Oswestry SY11 1RD
01691 653033
Day Lewis Pharmacy
Old Chapel Pharmacy 14 English Walls Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 2PA
01691 652160
Giles Evans Ltd – Highley Pharmacy
High St, Highley, Bridgnorth WV16 6LP
01746 861255
L Rowland & Co (Retail) Ltd, Marden MP, Shrewsbury
Marden Medical Practice, 25 Sutton Road, Shrewsbury SY2 6DL
01743 369446
L Rowland & Co (Retail) Ltd, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury
7 Lansdowne Road, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury SY3 9HT
01743 872154
L Rowland & Co (Retail) Ltd, Unit 1 Morris Central, Wem
Unit 1 Morris Central Shopping Parade, Wem, Shropshire SY4 5NY
01939 234004
Lunts Pharmacy Limited, Ludlow
116-119 Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1RU
01584 872230
Lunts Pharmacies Ltd (Craven Arms)
Drovers House, The Auction Yard, Craven Arms SY7 9BZ
01588 672327
Lunts Pharmacies Ltd (Hereford Road, Shrewsbury)
1-3 Hereford Road, Shrewsbury SY3 7QT
01743 351918
Lunts Pharmacies Ltd (Pontesbury)
Main Rd, Pontesbury, Shrewsbury SY5 0RR
01743 790273
Lunts Healthcare Ltd (The Tannery, Shrewsbury)
The Tannery, Barker St, Shrewsbury SY1 1QJ
01743 232857
MSM & Lunts, Church Stretton
40 Sandford Avenue, Church Stretton, Shropshire SY6 6BH
01694 722806
MSM Pharm Ltd, Wem & Prees MP, Wem
Wem & Prees Medical Practice, New Street, Wem SY4 5AF
01939 232361
MSM & Lunts, Shrewsbury
Severn Fields Health Centre, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury SY1 4RQ
01743 462929
PCT Healthcare Ltd (Peak Pharmacy, Murrays Healthcare, Market Drayton)
Medical Centre, Maer Ln, Market Drayton TF9 3AL
01630 652784
PCT Healthcare Ltd (Peak Pharmacy, Murrays Healthcare, Bridgnorth)
Northgate Medical Centre, Old Smithfield, Bridgnorth WV16 4EN
01746 763297
R.E. & C.O. Alman Limited (Wenlock Pharmacy)
14 High St, Much Wenlock TF13 6AA
01952 727253
Radbrook Green Pharmacy
Bank Farm Road, Radbrook, Shrewsbury SY3 6DU
01743 231817
T.A Rhodes Limited
77 High Street, Albrighton, WV7 3JA
01902 372363
EHC may be available from other pharmacies, we advise calling your local pharmacy to see if this is a service offered and to check if a cost applies and if staff are available to issue it.
Telford and Wrekin
School Nurses
If you attend a school in Telford & Wrekin, the School Nursing Team may be able to provide you with free emergency contraception.
Pharmacies
See a list of Telford & Wrekin pharmacies that provide free emergency contraception on the Central Health website.