Emergency contraception offers the following advantages as a short-term method of contraception:

• It is safe for almost all women
• Using emergency contraception does not affect long term fertility
• It does not cause an abortion
• You can use emergency contraception at any time in your menstrual cycle
• Emergency contraception is not harmful to your health.

When deciding if emergency contraception is a method right for you, here are a few quick facts you should consider:

• It will only work for sex that occurred in the previous five days
• It is not recommended as a regular method of contraception
• Unlike condoms, it does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• It may have some side effects, such as bleeding, nausea and fatigue.

Emergency contraceptives can interfere with other medications. Depending which brand of emergency contraception you use, there is a small risk it may affect the following medication:

• St John’s Wort herbal medicine
• Various epilepsy medicines
• Various HIV medicines
• Various tuberculosis (TB) medicines
• Antacid medicines

You should use emergency contraception in these situations:

• After unprotected sex
• The condom split or came off
• Missing pills while taking the oral contraceptive pill
• Being sick or having diarrhoea while taking the oral contraceptive pill
• Being late for your repeat contraceptive injectable
• Forgetting to use a form of contraception
• Not being able to feel your IUD threads
• Taking medicines which reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraception
• Following sexual assault or rape

If you find remembering your contraception a regular problem, it might be worth exploring other methods.

Take a look at our online contraception tool. The website uses a simple questionnaire to provide you with clear, tailored advice on your contraceptive options.

No. Emergency contraception only reduces the chance of you getting pregnant, and won't protect you against STIs.

The best way to reduce your risk of STIs is by having safer sex by using barrier methods such as male condoms and female condoms.

If you've had unprotected sex you should get tested for STIs. We can test you for STIs and arrange emergency contraception for you.