Buying the morning after pill: a complete guide
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What's the lowdown?
You can get the morning after pill for free from your GP or local sexual health clinic, buy it over the counter from a pharmacy or buy the morning after pill online via The Lowdown with discreet next day delivery
It’s advised that you buy the morning after pill for yourself instead of someone else buying it for you, as the person providing it will need to ask a series of questions to ensure the right type and dose of morning after pill for you
Whether you’ve never taken the morning after pill before, or are in a situation where you’re unable to get it via your usual route, here’s the lowdown on where, how and who can buy the morning after pill so you can make a quick and informed choice – time is of the essence, after all.
Firstly, what are the two types of morning after pill?
Which morning after pill you should take depends on a few factors, like when you last had sex, your BMI and whether you’re using ongoing contraception or other medications. You can check out our guide to emergency contraception for more information on each of these pills and how they work, but here’s a super quick overview:
- Levonorgestrel (also known as Levonelle, LoviOne, Ezinelle or Plan B), which contains a synthetic hormone called levonorgestrel and can be taken up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex
- ellaOne, which contains a hormone modulator called ulipristal acetate, and can be taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex
Not sure which of these will work best for you? We’ve created a super quick guide to choosing the best morning after pill for you to make sure you’re getting the most effective treatment.
Where can you get the morning after pill?
You can get both types of morning after pill from from several places¹. If you want to get the morning after pill for free, you can go to your local pharmacy, your GP or local sexual health clinic. Your GP or sexual health clinic is a great option for those on a budget, or who’d like the chance to ask further questions with a healthcare professional in a private setting. An unfortunate downside to these options is that it can be difficult to get an appointment in the time that you need, or to take time out of your schedule to get there.
You can also get both types of the morning after pill over the counter for free at a pharmacy. Be prepared to have a slightly awkward conversation with a pharmacist in front of a line of other customers. There’s absolutely no shame in getting the morning after pill (literally who cares what everyone else thinks!), but if you want a bit of privacy, ask if they have another room you could chat in.
How much is the morning after pill?
The morning after pill is now free from pharmacies! Or you can choose to buy it online or from a pharmacy if you wish to use a particular brand.
Who can get the morning after pill?
If you are under 16 years old, you will need a prescription from a doctor to get the morning after pill, so will need to go to your GP or sexual health clinic to get it.
If you’re over 16, you are able to buy the morning after pill over the counter without the need for a prescription. The morning after pill is safe to take whether you are under or over 16.
Can you buy the morning after pill for someone else?
Technically someone else, like a friend or partner, can buy the morning after pill for you (or vice versa) but it’s not advised. While there is no law against buying the morning after pill for someone else, including no official regulation against men buying the morning after pill²; a pharmacist has a duty of care towards their patients.
This means they will very likely want to talk to the person who intends to take the morning after pill, as they need to ask a series of questions to determine which pill may work best for them, whether the morning after pill is suitable, depending on various factors like weight, medical conditions or other medications taken, or whether they may need alternative emergency contraception like the copper coil (IUD).
When buying the morning after pill using an online pharmacy, like The Lowdown, you will need to purchase the morning after pill for yourself. Our pharmacists will review your answers to our short questionnaire to confirm which type of morning after pill is suitable for you.
How to ask for the morning after pill
When buying the morning after pill, or getting it from your GP or sexual health clinic, you’ll be asked a series of questions. Here’s what you’ll usually need to tell them:
- Why do you need it? (Did your condom break, did you miss a pill, etc)
- When did you have unprotected sex?
- When was the first day of your last period?
- Do you use regular contraception?
- Your height and weight (to determine your BMI)
- Have you given birth or had a miscarriage, abortion or ectopic pregnancy in the last 21 days?
- Are you currently breastfeeding?
- Do you have any medical conditions or allergies?
- Do you take any other medications including over the counter remedies?
Still got questions about the morning after pill? Check out our complete guide to emergency contraception for everything you need to know.
Georgia Gallant
Georgia is The Lowdown’s Social & Content Lead. Having worked across editorial, social, PR and comms roles for the last five years, Georgia focuses on growing The Lowdown’s online presence and creating exciting content across the company’s digital channels. She also hates writing bios.
Our medical review process
This article has been medically reviewed for factual and up to date information by a Lowdown doctor.
