Emergency contraceptive pills are available directly from a Pharmacy without a Doctor’s prescription to women over 16 years of age, subject to meeting certain criteria.

If you think you need emergency contraception, it’s important to act quickly.

Emergency contraception is a safe, effective and responsible method of preventing pregnancy when regular contraception has failed or if no contraception was used.

Emergency contraception (sometimes described as the morning after pill) can be effective up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex but is more effective the sooner you use it.

Remember, 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.thinkcontraception.ie for more information.

Scanlon’s Pharmacists have been trained to treat requests for emergency contraception professionally and confidentially.  The Pharmacist will need to ask a few simple questions before giving you the medication.  This will help the Pharmacist ensure that Emergency Contraceptive pill is suitable for you to use.  If for any reason it is not suitable, the Pharmacist will direct you another source of help and support.

Some of the reasons it may not be suitable to supply emergency contraception include:

• too much time has passed for the medicine to be effective
• you are taking other medicines that interact with emergency contraception
• you have an existing medical condition that means it is not safe to take emergency contraception
• your last period was irregular in some way

You will be supplied with the medication, along with advice from the Pharmacist on how it should be taken.  Your Pharmacist will also offer you advice on the options available for long-term methods of contraception.

*Emergency Contraception should not replace regular, long-term contraception. Always read the label.  Emergency contraception is not 100% effective.