Morning After Pill

Emergency hormonal contraception (often called the “morning after pill”) is a pill that you take after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

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.

Since July 2017, the morning after pill is now available to medical card holders free of charge.

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

Emergency hormonal contraception is a safe, effective and responsible method of preventing pregnancy when regular contraception has failed or if no contraception was used. It can be effective for up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex but is most 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.

The pharmacist will need to ask a few simple questions before giving you the medication.  This will help the pharmacist ensure that emergency contraception 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.

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

The cost of the Emergency Contraception to non-medical card holders is 29.45euro.