Can You Get The Morning After Pill In Advance?

The morning after pill is a type of emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is designed to be used in cases of unprotected sex or if your regular contraception fails. In most cases, you’d only try to buy the morning after pill after having unprotected sex, but it can actually be accessed in advance.

Having the morning-after pill in your medicine cabinet can seem beneficial in certain situations, and can provide peace of mind - for example, in cases where you think you might not have access to a pharmacy quickly enough, or just to have to hand in case of contraception failures. However, it’s not meant to replace regular contraception. It also doesn’t protect against STIs and STDs. This means that it shouldn’t replace using regular, popular contraceptives such as the pill and/or condoms.

Taking the morning after pill in advance is not recommended. It won’t do anything to protect you against pregnancy. It simply doesn’t work that way. While having one to hand can be helpful in case of emergency, you should only take it after you’ve had unprotected sex, or your normal contraception has failed. Otherwise, you’re wasting the medicine and still risk getting pregnant.

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Why Consider Getting The Morning After Pill In Advance?

While you should never plan to have sex without an appropriate form of contraception, there are a few different reasons you may want to get emergency contraception in advance of having unprotected sex.

• Travel: If you’re going on holiday or travelling for work, you may be visiting areas where you don’t know how to access emergency contraception. Getting it before you go away means you’ll be prepared in case of unexpected situations.
• Remote Areas: If you live in a place that doesn’t have easy access to emergency contraception, you may want to make sure you have a small supply to hand. Then you won’t be scrambling to get some when you need it.
• Contraception Failures: If you’re having regular sexual intercourse, you may worry about your usual method of contraception failing. It can happen. You might miss a pill, or the condom may break, for example. Having emergency contraception in advance means you have peace of mind in these situations.

How To Get Emergency Contraception In Advance

In the UK, there are a few different ways you can get emergency contraception ahead of needing it. You can obtain it from most pharmacies and online pharmacies, without a prescription. Your GP may also be able to write you a prescription for it, and sexual health clinics are another option.

There are two main types of morning-after pill available - Levonorgestrel and EllaOne.

• Levonorgestrel: This is the original morning after pill, and you need to take this within 72 hours (or three days) of having unprotected sex for it to be effective.
• EllaOne: This contains ulipristal acetate and is the newest morning after pill on the market. This is an option you can take up to 120 hours after having unprotected sex, and it’s estimated to remain 98% effective throughout that time.

Both of these can be obtained over the counter and without a prescription. You just need a quick consultation to discuss your circumstances and receive personalised contraception advice so you know you’re getting the correct medication.

Using Emergency Contraception Correctly

With the morning after pills, timing is key. The sooner after unprotected sex that you take the medication, the more effective it is.

For example, taking Levonorgestrel:

• Within the first 24 hours, it is estimated to be around 95% effective
• Between 24 to 48 hours, it is around 85% effective
• From 48 to 72 hours the effectiveness goes down to 58%

EllaOne, on the other hand, is thought to be 98% effective if taken up to 120 hours (five days) after sex, regardless of when you take it.

Remember, though, emergency contraception only works to protect against pregnancy from sex that you’ve already had. It won’t prevent pregnancy from any unprotected sex you may have after you take the morning after pill. It also won’t protect you from any sexually transmitted infections.

Levonorgestrel (Generic Levonelle)

Levonelle is the original 'morning-after pill' that can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

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Limitations And Alternatives To The Morning After Pill

The morning after pill is only meant to be used in cases of emergency, so you shouldn’t ever use it as your main form of contraception. These pills work by preventing the release of an egg during ovulation, so there’s no egg for the sperm to fertilise. But, it’s not as effective as other forms of contraception, and taking it too often may cause side effects, such as irregularities to your menstrual period.

However, many forms of contraceptives are designed for regular use.

Options include:

• Combined pill (oestrogen and progestogen)
• Mini pill (progestogen-only)
• Contraceptive patch
• Vaginal ring
• Contraceptive injection
• Contraceptive implant
• IUD (intrauterine device/copper coil)
• IUS (intrauterine system/hormonal coil)
• Condoms
• Diaphragm

Some of these you take or use daily, whereas others, like the implant and IUD, can last years.

EllaOne 30mg Tablet

EllaOne is a 'morning after pill' that is taken in a single dose for emergency contraception.

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Always Remember...

It is essential that you speak to a licensed medical professional before starting any emergency contraception medication. They can provide personalised, expert guidance, assess potential risks and ensure that your chosen treatment is safe and suitable for your health needs.

Preparation Is Key To Protect Against Pregnancy

It’s possible to get the morning after pill before you need it, by purchasing it from places like pharmacies, online pharmacies, your GP or sexual health clinics - but, you should never rely on it as your main form of contraception. It’s not as effective as other methods, and you should only use it for its intended use - emergencies. You should also always consult with a healthcare professional before taking any contraceptive medication.

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Buy Emergency Contraception from The Independent Pharmacy, and receive delivery from as early as the next working day. Get started by taking our free, three minute consultation.

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If you’d like peace of mind, and to make sure you’re covered for contraceptive failures and unprotected sex, check out our range of emergency contraception treatments. Stay prepared and protected after an emergency with the morning after pill.

Sources:

• https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summaries/emergency-contraception/
• https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/
• https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/emergency-contraceptive-pill-morning-after-pill/what-is-it/
• https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/contraception/emergency-contraception/