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What is the Emergency Contraception?
The Emergency Contraceptive also known as the morning after pill is a tablet 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 have not 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 is most effective when taken as close as possible to the event.
The morning after pill is available to you directly from your local pharmacy, without a prescription for those over 16 years of age, subject to meeting certain criteria.
The emergency contraception service is available free of charge to medical card holders when a valid card is presented. For other customers, a fee will be charged, depending on the outcome of the consultation and the type of emergency contraception supplied.
How does the Online Emergency Contraceptive Service work?
When you complete our online consultation form, your selected Meaghers Pharmacy will receive your details. The pharmacist will review the information you have given. As part of our online form you are asked to provide a contact phone number. This means that should the pharmacist wish to query anything, they can do so prior to your arrival, making the consultation process in store much faster and more convenience.
Based on the information you have given the pharmacist will determine if the morning after pill is suitable for you to take. If so, they will prepare your medication in advance of your calling into the pharmacy.
Upon completion on the online form and on the same day, you should call into your selected Meaghers pharmacy and ask to speak to the pharmacist. They will run through a very brief consultation with you and provide you with the medication.
All of our pharmacists have been trained to treat requests for emergency contraception professionally and confidentially.
Some of the reasons supply of the Morning After Pill may not be possible
- 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
- You are allergic 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 the morning after pill 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.
How effective is the Morning After Pill?
Morning after pills are 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.
Sexually Transmitted Infection
It is important to note that emergency contraception does not protect you from sexually transmitted infection. It is important to speak with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions or concerns about STI’s.
Further information can be found at https://www.sexualwellbeing.ie/
