What is EHC?
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What is Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC)?What do I need to do?
What happens when I access the service?
What happens afterwards?
How much will the treatment cost me?
How confidential is the service?
Where can I get Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) from?
Have I left it too late?
What is Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC)?
EHC is more commonly referred to as 'the morning after pill' and is designed to prevent pregnancy. EHC is a pill that can be used if you have had sex without using contraception or you think your usual method of contraception has failed.
It may be:
- That you did not use any type of contraception e.g. a condom or the pill
- The condom split or came off during sex
- You have missed a pill/s or injection
- You have had sickness or diarrhoea which means your pill might not be working
- You are or have been on antibiotics which can stop your pill working
The EHC tablet is called Levonelle and it contains Levonorgestrel (a progestogen hormone).
EHC works by:
- Preventing ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovaries), or
- Preventing an egg from being fertilised by sperm, or
- Preventing a fertilised egg implanting in the lining of the uterus (womb).
What do I need to do?
You must seek advice from a Pharmacist, your Family Doctor/ GP, Contraception and Sexual Health Service (CASH) or Youth Clinic as soon as possible.
The sooner you take EHC the better; within 12 hours is best, however, it can be effective up to 72 hours/ 3 days after sex.
What happens when I access the service?
You will have a brief consultation with the health professional that you choose to visit. All help72 Pharmacists and health workers are fully qualified and trained to provide EHC. In order to see if EHC is right for you they will ask you a number of questions like:
- Is there any possibility that you could already be pregnant?
- Have you ever had an ectopic pregnancy?
- Are you Breast Feeding?
- Did you have unprotected sex more than 72 hours ago?
- Is your period late or was your last period unusual in any way?
- Do you suffer from porphyry (a blood disorder)?
- Are you lactose intolerant?
- Do you suffer from Crohn's disease or any other bowel problems?
- Do you suffer from liver problems?
- Have you ever had an allergic reaction to EHC?
- Are you taking any other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription or herbal remedies, such as St. John's Wort?
They will do this to make sure that EHC will be as effective and safe as possible for you. If the Pharmacist or health worker feels that EHC is suitable for you they will give you one (or occasionally two) pill/s to take.
If the Pharmacist cannot give you EHC he/she should give you the details of an alternative treatment.
Remember to be honest with the Pharmacist or health worker and answer all of his/ her questions as the effectiveness of EHC depends on it being the treatment best suited to your needs.
Never get the medication for anyone else.
What happens afterwards?
If you are sick (vomit) within three hours of taking the medication you should contact your Pharmacist, Family Doctor/ GP, CASH or Youth Clinic immediately for advice.
It is recommended that you avoid alcohol for 24 hours after you take the medication.
Your next period may arrive earlier, on time or later that usual. It can also be lighter or heavier than normal. If your period is shorter or lighter than usual or you have not had a period within 4 weeks, you should request a pregnancy test from your Family Doctor/ GP, CASH, or Youth Clinic. Or you can purchase one from a Pharmacy or supermarket.
How much will the treatment cost me?
The service is free from Pharmacists who display the help72 logo. You can find a complete list of the accredited Pharmacists in Rotherham here. EHC is also free from your Family Doctor/ GP, CASH (all women) and Youth Clinics (Under 25s).
EHC is available from unaccredited Pharmacists, however there may be a cost of up to £30 and availability may be age restricted.
How confidential is the service?
We provide a confidential service to all our clients, including those under the age of 18.
Even if you are under 18 years of age, nothing will be said to anyone - including parents, other family members, friends, care workers etc.
There are however some rare occasions where we might have to consider passing on your confidential information without your permission:
- If you are under 18 years of age and you tell us about someone who has seriously abused you, sexually, physically or emotionally.
- If you tell us about someone who has been abusing a young person (or people) under 18 years of age.
- If your life is at serious risk.
- If another person's life is at risk.
If we have to inform someone about these events, we would always try to discuss this with you first, unless this might compromise your safety.
If you have any worries or concerns about confidentiality please speak to the Pharmacist or health worker that you choose to visit.
Where can I get Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) from?
You can get treatment and advice from accredited Pharmacists displaying the help72 logo, your Family doctor/ GP, CASH and Youth Clinics. You can find details for all these services here.
Have I left it too late?
If you think you've left it longer than 72 hours/ 3 days since you had sex, don't panic, there is another option available to you.
Your Family Doctor/ GP or CASH can fit an Intra-uterine Contraceptive Device (IUD) up to 5 days/120 hours after unprotected sex. IUD's are more commonly referred to as the contraceptive coil. They are a small device (no longer than a matchstick) and are made of plastic and copper. They work by preventing an egg being fertilised or by preventing a fertilised egg from implanting in the womb.
If you have not taken EHC within 72 hours you should contact your Family Doctor/GP or CASH for advice and support.