The morning after pill can save the day if you are worried about pregnancy after unprotected sex. It’s considered an emergency form of contraception and can offer you peace of mind if a condom breaks during sex, or your usual form of contraception fails. Keep reading for further information about the morning after pill in Wrexham and how to get it.
Do not let the term ‘morning after’ mislead you. You don’t have to wait until the morning after you had unprotected sex to use the pill. The pill should be taken within 24 hours after unprotected sex to maximise its effectiveness. However, the morning after pill can be used even up to 5 days afterwards if you are close to ovulation. The earlier you use the pill, the better your chances of avoiding unplanned pregnancy.
Do morning after pills in Wrexham really work?
You can find two types of the morning after pill in our stores: Levonelle and ellaOne. It’s generally recommended to use the pill early in the menstrual cycle before ovulation in order for it to be most effective. If you engage in unprotected sex within 24 hours immediately following ovulation, when the egg can still get fertilised, then the morning after pill will likely be of little or no use to you at all. Nevertheless, there’s still a chance of emergency contraception preventing pregnancy by reducing the uterus’ receptivity to egg implantation.
Levonelle and ellaOne seem to be equally effective when used within 12 hours following unprotected sex (95% effective). However, Levonelle has proved to reduce its effectiveness after 48 hours, while ellaOne maintains its 95% effectiveness for up to 5 days after unprotected sex. It doesn’t really matter whether you use Levonelle or ellaOne if it’s 12-24 hours after unprotected sex. However, you should go for ellaOne if it’s past 24 hours already.
Ultimately, there is no need to worry as your pharmacist will be able to talk you through the available options discreetly to find the one that’s right for you.
Do morning after pills have side effects?
The morning after pill rarely comes with long-lasting side effects. You may experience:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Breast tenderness
- Dizziness
- Heavier menstrual bleeding
- Lower abdominal pain
You should notify your pharmacist if you happen to vomit in the 2 hours after using the morning after pill, because you might have to take another pill.
Can men buy the morning after pill in Wrexham?
Even though there isn’t any particular law that prevents men from purchasing the morning after pill, pharmacists may have to see the person who will be taking it for duty of care purposes.
The pharmacist may require certain information, which may only be given by the patient, before giving out the morning after pill.
Where can I get the free morning after pill in Wrexham?
Women in Wales and across the UK can get access to the morning after pill for free if prescribed by a healthcare provider. Emergency contraception can be found for free in:
- Contraception clinics
- Brook centres
- Some minor injuries units
- Most sexual health clinics
- Most GP surgeries
- NHS walk-in centres
- Community pharmacies
Visit us today by finding your nearest branch to get your morning after pill.
This post was written on behalf of Knights Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor
