Emergency Contraception

Emergency Contraception also known as the “morning after pill” is a medication that you take after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. It can also be used if regular contraception has failed, or you are worried that your regular contraception may not have been used or taken correctly. If you think you may need emergency contraception it is always important to act quickly and consult your pharmacist for advice. It is important to note that it is most effective when taken as close as possible to the event.

Emergency contraception is available, subject to meeting certain criteria, without a prescription for those from 16 years of age.

The emergency contraception service is available free of charge to medical card holders when a valid card is presented and to persons aged 17-35 years with a PPS number. For other customers, a fee will be charged, depending on the outcome of the consultation and the type of emergency contraception supplied.

• Too much time has passed since the unprotected sex for the medicine to be effective (max time is 120 hours)
  You may be taking other medications or have certain medical conditions that make it unsafe for you to use emergency contraception
•  Allergies to any of the ingredients in the medication
  
  
• You have already taken an emergency contraceptive pill within this cycle
• Your last period was irregular in some way
  

Our pharmacists will determine if emergency contraception is suitable for you. If for any reason the pill is not suitable, there may be further options available. Our pharmacists are trained to be able to direct you to the correct source for help or support.

Emergency contraception is not 100% effective. This is because there is a chance that you may have already ovulated when you take an emergency contraceptive pill. Taking emergency contraceptive pills as soon as possible after unprotected sex gives the best chance of success.

It should be noted that emergency contraception cannot protect against a sexually transmitted infection. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you have any questions about STI’s or visit www.sexualwellbeing.ie/ for more information.

When you complete our online consultation form, your details will be sent to the pharmacy. The pharmacist will review the information you have given and finalise the consultation with you in-person in-private when you arrive in the pharmacy. The pharmacist will determine if emergency contraception is suitable for you to take.

Upon completion of the online form and on the same day, you should call into the pharmacy and ask to speak to the pharmacist, explaining that you already completed a form online to request emergency contraception. Please do this as early as possible in the day, but at least 30 minutes before the pharmacy closes.

All of our pharmacists have been trained to treat requests for emergency contraception professionally and confidentially.