Where can I buy contraception?

Is contraception free?

If prescribed on the NHS, your contraception will be free. You can get prescriptions through your GP or practice nurse, sexual health or contraception clinic, or sometimes from the hospital if you are under a gynaecology clinic. The government recently changed the laws in England, allowing your pharmacy to prescribe and dispense your contraceptive pill without seeing your GP.

There is also the option to purchase your contraception privately, through a private clinic or pharmacy, in person or via an online service. Our partner pharmacy Chemist4U is one of the first digital pharmacies that offers the online delivery of contraception.  

It is also free to use our contraception recommendation service. The quiz aims to simplify the process of choosing a contraceptive method. It is based on your  preferences, medical history and lifestyle. Our contraception comparison is also free, allowing you to compare every single method of contraception to find the method that’s best for you. Give them a go today!

Where can I buy contraceptives?

Below we’ve created a super handy guide explaining where you can buy contraception, including where to get emergency contraception, plus all the details on how to buy contraception through The Lowdown. 

Can you buy the contraceptive pill over the counter or from a pharmacist?

Up until July 2021, you could only buy emergency contraceptive pills (EllaOne, Levonorgestrel or Levonelle) ‘over the counter’ without a prescription in the UK. 

However, in July 2021, the MHRA¹ announced that the progestogen-only pills containing desogestrel Lovima and Hana would be available to buy over the counter from the pharmacy without a prescription.

Since December 2023, your local pharmacist can prescribe you contraception. It is not quite over-the-counter but after a consultation with them, they will be able to offer you a suitable method. So this will save you time from going to the GP or sexual health clinic.

Here at The Lowdown, we’re keen to make access to contraception easier. All you need to do is fill in a short questionnaire and order from Chemist4U via the Lowdown.

How do I order contraception through The Lowdown?

To order, you just need to fill out a short Chemist4U consultation form before you can place your order. The form will ask all of the important questions such as your age, any medical problems, and whether you smoke.  All these questions are so we can ensure that we have a full view of your medical history and that the pill you are ordering is the right fit for you.

Our pharmacy clinicians will then review your order before dispatching it by either Royal Mail or DPD

Once the request is received by Chemist4U pharmacy online, the team will verify this with a quick phone call before sending your contraception right to your door in discreet packaging.

The contraception should come to you within 48 hours, how speedy, however this might be delayed if the prescriber needs more information from you or there are delays with the post. 

If you are just starting on your contraception journey the initial supply will probably be 3 months worth but after this, you can opt for 3 months, 6 months or 12 months supplies.

What contraception is available?

At the Lowdown, we offer the widest range of contraception. Below are the free contraception pill options you can get from our partner.

Not sure what contraception is right for you? Try out our contraception recommender tool. Or alternatively, you can browse contraception reviews from people like you. 

Where can I buy the Combined oral contraceptive pill?

Chemist4U offers these COCPs:

• Microgynon 30
• Microgynon 30 ED
• Millinette 20/75
• Millinette 30/75
• Gedarel 20/150
• Gedarel 30/150
• Femodene
• Femodene ED 
• Femodette
• Cilique
• Cimizt
• Drovelis
• Eloine
• Katya
• Levest
• Lizinna
• Logynon
• Yasmin
• Rigevidon
• Zoely
• Qlaira
• Maexeni
• Lucette
• Marvelon
• Mercilon
• Norimin
• Ovranette

Where can I buy the progesterone-only contraceptive pill?

Chemist4U offers these POPs:

• Cerazette
• Cerelle
• Desogestrel
• Desomono
• Zelleta
• Norgeston
• Noriday

How quickly will you respond to my contraception order?

Our partner Chemist4U will try and dispatch all orders on the same day they are placed if they are approved before 1pm. This is not always possible as you will have to speak to the prescriber before they can approve your request.

How long does contraception take to arrive?

Chemist4U sends off their NHS prescriptions in a Tracked 48 hours royal mail shipping option. 

If you are paying for the contraception these are the options you can choose from: 

• Tracked48 with Royal Mail £2.95
• Tracked24 with Royal Mail £3.95
• DPD next day delivery £5.99
• Royal Mail Special Delivery before 1pm £8.95 
• Royal Mail Special Delivery before 9am £21.95 

How much does a contraception subscription cost? 

If you are living in England, the contraception methods above are free to order. However, if you live in Scotland or Ireland, you will have to pay for the service. The below contraception options are also paid for as the NHS do not cover them:

• Sayana Press
• Evra patch
• Nuvaring
• SyreniRing
• Slynd
• Lovima 
• Hana
• Emergency contraception (Levonorgestrel, ellaOne, and LoviOne)

Chemist4U has agreed to honour our low pricing and will charge the same price for these contraceptives as we used to charge!

Are contraception orders discreet? 

We’ve got you! Your order will arrive in a white unbranded envelope. Completely discreet, no one would know what’s inside.

Can I order a pill that I haven’t used before?

No you will not speak to a health professional first but you will speak to one after placing your order and completing the medical consultation form. There you can ask any questions you might have about the contraceptive method you have chosen. If you’ve not used the contraceptive pill before and want to talk through how it works, how to start taking it and any possible side effects you can schedule a 1-1 call with one of our doctors and in-house contraception experts.

Will you need my blood pressure measurement? 

We will need a recent blood pressure reading to ensure your contraception is safe for you. Many pharmacies and GP surgeries offer blood pressure readings – often these can be walk-in services without an appointment. 

You can also purchase a blood pressure machine online to use yourself at home, the British Heart Foundation has a wide range of approved monitors for a reasonable budget. 

Is the emergency contraception free?

There are some places in the UK that offer free emergency contraception such as:

• Most sexual health clinics 
• Most GP surgeries
• A few NHS walk-in centres
• Pharmacies that offer NHS emergency contraception services

Where can I buy emergency contraception?

Most pharmacies do sell emergency contraception for around £25.

You can get the emergency contraception pill from any pharmacy including the Lowdown partner Chemist4U pharmacy and some other online pharmacies.

There are 3 brands of Morning after pill you can buy at The Lowdown:

• EllaOne (5 days)
• Levonorgestrel (3 days)
• Levonelle (3 days)

If you have had unprotected sex and need emergency contraception, the copper IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception. It can be fitted by your GP or local sexual health clinic up to 5 days after unprotected sex. 

Our blog on ‘IUD coil fitting: what to expect’ explains in further detail what to expect when having your coil fitted. 

Can you buy the morning-after pill over the counter?

Yes, you can buy the morning-after pill over the counter, usually after having a consultation with your pharmacist. Your local pharmacy will stock the morning-after pill. 

Can I get the morning-after pill from Boots?

Yes, you can get the morning-after pill from Boots. There is also the option to buy the morning-after pill online from boots too. 

How much is the emergency contraception pill?

The emergency contraception pill does come with a cost unless it is prescribed by the NHS. It will range in price depending on which pharmacy. You can buy the morning-after pill for as little as £9.50 on The Lowdown website. 

Does The Lowdown sell the morning-after pill?

The Lowdown sells EllaOne and Levonorgestrel emergency contraception and you can order with next-day delivery to ensure it arrives within your time frame to take it. You can also order for future use. 

If you are still confused about the changes to our pharmacy, head on over to our FAQs where we explain things in a little more detail!