Emergency Contraception
What is Emergency Contraception?
Emergency contraception (also known as the ‘morning after pill’) is a pill you can take if you have had unprotected sex, or if your usual contraception has failed (for example if your condom split or if you missed your pill and then had sex).
It can help stop you getting pregnant but will not protect you against sexually transmitted infections.
This pill should only be used as an emergency and should not be used instead of other regular methods of contraception, such as condoms.
How much does it cost?
Emergency contraception is completely free from chemists/walk-in centres. See below for where you can get it.
Where can you get it locally?
Local pharmacies: find out which ones at www.alwpct.nhs.uk
Brook in Wigan and in Leigh: • More info on Brook
Leigh walk-in Centre: • More info on Leigh Walk-In Centre
If you need to contact the walk-in centre you can call on 01942 264002.
Family Planning Clinics: • More info on family planning clinics
On Bank Holidays and weekends, or when Family Planning Clinics are not open, you can get emergency contraception at:
- Most community pharmacies (to find out if your local pharmacy provide EHC, you can telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647)
- Leigh Walk In Centre (01942 264002)
- A&E Department, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary (RAEI) (01942 82244)
Emergency Contraception should only be used in an emergency, not as your regular contraception. To talk to someone about regular contraception, such as the pill or condoms, look at our links page or go to your doctor.