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What is emergency contraception (also known as the morning after pill) and how can I get it?
Emergency contraception is a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy when a woman has had unprotected sex or when she knows something went wrong with her usual method of contraception. There are two methods of emergency contraception available, emergency hormonal contraceptive pills, which must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse and a copper-releasing intra-uterine device (IUD) that prevents pregnancy if inserted within five days of unprotected sex.
Emergency contraception is currently on available on prescription, free of charge, from GPs, family planning clinics, youth advisory services, e.g. Brook Advisory Clinics, some hospital accident and emergency departments and some genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics.
Early in 2001, the UK introduced an 'over-the-counter' version of this, called 'Levonelle'. You can get it from any chemist - unless the pharmacist has any moral objections. However, it can only be sold as an over-the-counter product to women who are 16 years of age and older. The pharmacy are obliged to offer you brief counselling about the PCP and its possible side effects before handing it over. The cost to you is currently £20.
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