NEED ADVICE? SPEAK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL
Speak to a healthcare professional for advice and support on your contraceptive needs.
Types of Emergency Contraception
There are actually two main types of emergency contraception – a pill and the copper coil (IUD).
The Copper Coil
A long-acting method of contraception that does not include hormones, the copper coil or intrauterine device (IUD) uses copper which is toxic to sperm and stops the fertilised egg from attaching to the womb. If inserted less than 5 days after unprotected sex, it can be effective as an emergency contraceptive. You can then keep wearing it for up to 5 to 10 years to prevent unintended pregnancy.
Emergency Contraceptive Pill
Often called 'the morning after pill' it is a pill that is designed to prevent pregnancy. It can be taken up to 3-5 days of having unprotected sex (depending on the one you choose to take), but it is important to remember that the sooner you take it, the better it will work. However, the emergency contraceptive pill must not be used as a regular method of contraception.
Speak to a healthcare professional
If you have any concerns or questions about emergency contraception, it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional. If you did not intend to have unprotected sex, for example if the condom broke, it might also be a good idea to ask them for a Sexually transmitted infection (STI) test.
