Emergency Contraception

Emergency Contraception

The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) also commonly known as the  morning after pill is available from all My Pharmacy locations.  One of our accredited pharmacists will take you through a brief consultation in a private consultation room to see if the ECP is appropriate for you.

If you are under the age of 25 years old the Bay of Plenty district health board fully funds this service so there is no charge to you.

The ECP prevents pregnancy by delaying the release of an egg from your ovary until sperm are no longer active, and changing the lining of your uterus so a fertilised egg will not develop further.

The ECP is for emergency use only and is not a substitute for regular contraception. Please talk to one of our pharmacists and they can advise you of options to discuss with your doctor.

Taking the ECP as soon as possible is best but you can expect the follow success rate up to 72 hours after unprotected sex:

95% if taken within 24 hours
75% if taken within 48 hours
50% if taken within 72 hours

The ECP does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, so please talk to our pharmacists or your doctor if you have concerns about the potential of contracting one of these infections.

It is normal to  experience some of the following side effects when taking the ECP: Breast tenderness, Dizziness ,Headache, Nausea or Vomiting. If vomiting occurs within three hours of taking the ECP, another dose should be taken immediately. Please see one of our pharmacists as soon as possible if this should occur.

It’s recommended that you use a barrier contraceptive (condoms) until your next period. If you take a regular contraceptive tablet you normally  keep taking it as normal but discuss with our pharmacist during your consultation. The emergency contraceptive pill  is generally safe to take while breastfeeding.