Emergency hormonal contraceptive pill (EHC)
What is the emergency hormonal contraceptive pill?
The effectiveness of the emergency contraceptive pill decreases over time. If it is taken within 24 hours of having unprotected sex it prevents 95% of pregnancies. It is important to make contact with our service or a pharmacy (see below) as soon as possible.
There are two types of EHC pill:
Ulipristal Acetate (also known as EllaOne)
Ulipristal Acetate can be taken up to five days (120 hours) after having unprotected sex.
Levonorgestel (also known as Levonelle)
Levonorgestel is the most commonly used. It can be taken up to three days (72 hours) after having unprotected sex.
The effectiveness of Levonelle decreases over time. If it is taken within 24 hours of having unprotected sex it prevents 95% of pregnancies.
Availability
Our Service
We offer free emergency contraception for all ages. We are a confidential service and you can easily book a telephone appointment by calling us on 01903 285199.
Our staff are experienced and will provide you with the necessary information and guidance to make sure that you have access to the right emergency contraception.
If you have any questions, please call us on the number provided.
Pharmacies
We want to make sure you have access to the resources you need. Across the county, most pharmacies offer access to oral emergency contraception free of charge to individuals of childbearing potential, where appropriate.
Pharmacies offering emergency contraception in West Sussex:
Please, use the link below to search for a pharmacy near you. The pharmacy can be contacted to check availability of the service prior to embarking on your journey.
Link: NHS – Find emergency contraception
Online
If you are 16 or over and a West Sussex resident you can order free emergency contraception online from SH:UK. Your contraception will be sent with 24 hour delivery, and arrive in letterbox-friendly plain packaging.
To order visit: Welcome to SH.UK
Your feedback on emergency contraception access is valuable to us. Please share it through the following link West Sussex County Council
We hope this information is helpful and that you can find a nearby pharmacy that provides this service. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01903 285199