Hundreds of thousands of women use the morning-after free drug service at pharmacies

It is known as the morning after pill Emergency contraception, ExternalIt is a medicine designed to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Usually it should be taken three to five days after unprotected sex. The sooner it is taken, the more effective it is.

It works by delaying or preventing ovulation, but it only prevents pregnancy if ovulation has not already occurred.

Alternatively, women can visit a doctor or nurse to be fitted with a coil or intrauterine device (IUD) to prevent pregnancy at any time during their period. To be effective, it is necessary to have unprotected sex within 120 hours or five days.

He said the government has exempted the morning-after pill from pharmacies. End “unfair” barriers and the postcode lottery Some women have experienced it – access varies greatly depending on where you live.

Under the plan, women can visit their local pharmacies and consult with a pharmacist or trained pharmacy technician confidentially before receiving the same-day medication.

Previously, women had to make an appointment with their GP, sexual health clinic or pharmacy to take the morning-after pill. Women can still find it as private as they can.

In the year In 2024/25, there were 150,000 NHS prescriptions for the morning-after pill – significantly fewer under the new service.

Dr Sue Man, NHS National Clinical Director for Women’s Health, said the pharmacy service was a “big step forward for women’s health”, with “no appointments, no waiting and no judgement”.

“This service is making a real impact, especially for women living in disadvantaged communities, by providing easy access to contraceptives at home,” she added.

Women can Check online, External To find a participating pharmacy near them. All pharmacists and pharmacy technicians providing the service have received special training to provide emergency contraception and broad-spectrum contraception.