Buying the morning after pill: a complete guide

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 synthetic hormone 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 a few different places, either for free or paid for^¹. If you want to get the morning after pill for free, you can go to either your GP or local sexual health clinic. This 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 buy both types of the morning after pill over the counter at any 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.

If you can’t get to your GP or clinic, want a more discreet option, or want to avoid the waiting rooms, you can buy the morning after pill online right here at The Lowdown! No more taking time out of your day to get to an appointment, as we’ll deliver directly to your door the next day. Not only that, but you’re also able to buy an extra dose for future use, just in case you need it.

How much is the morning after pill?

At The Lowdown, we sell the Levonorgestrel morning after pill for the lowest price possible, at just £9.50.

The price of ellaOne can vary between pharmacies, costing up to £35. At The Lowdown, ellaOne costs £27. It’s more expensive, but it is more effective at preventing pregnancy.

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. You must be 18 years or older to buy the morning after pill with The Lowdown. 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.