Sexual Health Week: Myth Busting Contraception

Myth buster – information for women everywhere

Emergency contraception (EC) is something we women know of or know something about at the very least. Some of us may have even had to use it. However, the FPA sexual health week survey they distributed concluded that there is a lot of misinformation circling, and often women are in the dark about what choices they have. FPA’s Guide to Emergency Contraception is the place to find out the facts about the three different methods that are available to you. Below, FPA is busting some of the common myths and misconceptions that many of you may recognise!

I won’t get pregnant now that I’m in my 40s – MYTH

• This is a frequent claim among women who believe they cannot/will not conceive when they reach a certain age, because they think their fertility suddenly disappears and they needn’t worry about the possibility of getting pregnant anymore. This is not true. There is a gradual decline in infertility and it’s vital to continue to use contraception until you reach menopause if you do not want to risk an unplanned pregnancy.

My menstrual cycle means I can’t be pregnant – MYTH

• Some women think they cannot get pregnant during their menstrual cycle. Considering this, it is important to know that sperm can live in the body for up to seven days and during this time they can fertilise an egg when it is released. It’s a fact that not every woman has a regular cycle. This creates difficulties knowing when you are ovulating, hence the importance of continuing using contraception to avoid pregnancy.

If I use emergency hormonal contraception too often I’ll become infertile – MYTH

• Another false statement. Yet emergency contraception is not as effective as using other methods of contraception regularly, so it’s best to consider which of the other 15 contraceptive methods available in the UK will be the most suitable during the stage you are at in life.

Emergency contraception is just a pill – MYTH

• There are three methods of emergency contraception available: Levonelle is a pill that can be taken up to three days (72 hours) after unprotected sex; ellaOne is a pill that can be taken up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex and Emergency IUD  is a small plastic and copper device that can be fitted in your uterus (womb) up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, and which you can choose to keep as your usual method of contraception for up to five or ten years, depending on the type.

Emergency contraception is hard to get – MYTH

• False. Emergency contraception is available to you from a variety of places: any general practice that provides contraceptive services; any contraception clinic; any young person’s service or Brook clinic for under 25s; any sexual health clinic and some GUM clinics. Levonelle is also free from most NHS walk-in centres (England only), most pharmacies, most NHS minor injuries units, and some hospital A&E departments. Levonelle can also be bought from most pharmacies (and ellaOne from some pharmacies) if you are 16 years old or over. If you ever feel embarrassed or worried about going to the pharmacy for emergency contraception, be reassured by Mr Ash Soni, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. He says: “Community pharmacies are the largest single provider of emergency contraception and we talk to women about it daily, so there’s no need to be embarrassed.  You don’t need an appointment and nearly all pharmacies now have a private consultation area where you won’t be overheard by anyone else.  Just ask to speak to the pharmacist in private to get the help and advice you need about emergency contraception and any other sexual health issues.”

Emergency contraception means I’ve been irresponsible – MYTH

• There are plenty of reasons why women might need to get emergency contraception, including a condom splitting or slipping off and even a missed pill. No method of contraception is 100% effective so there will be times when women will need to prevent pregnancy post-sex. Considering this is the real world; mistakes are bound to happen. Do not feel embarrassed about asking for emergency contraception, nobody should be judging you as you’re acting responsibly by preventing an unwanted pregnancy.

You need a prescription for emergency contraception – MYTH

• Levonelle is widely available to purchase over the counter from pharmacies around the UK without needing a prescription, and ellaOne is available to be purchased in some pharmacies. An Emergency IUD would have to be fitted by a specially trained doctor or nurse.

Emergency contraception is like an abortion – MYTH

• Completely untrue! Medical research and legal judgment are quite clear – emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy, whereas an abortion ends a pregnancy.

You have to use emergency contraception the morning after – MYTH

• The phrase ‘morning after pill’ is inaccurate – not only because there are three different methods of emergency contraception and only two of them are pills, but not one of them have to be used within 24 hours post-sex, to be effective. See previous myth busters for the times when each of the three emergency contraceptives can be taken.

You can’t use emergency contraception pills more than once in the same menstrual cycle – MYTH

• Levonelle can be taken as many times as needed in the same cycle, although ellaOne should not be used more than once in the same cycle, or the same cycle as taking Levonelle. Emergency contraception is not as effective as using other methods of contraception regularly, so it’s best to refer to which of the fifteen methods are most suitable for you.

You need permission to get emergency contraception if you’re under 16 – MYTH

• You can still get emergency contraception, as well as other methods of contraception, without the doctor, nurse or pharmacist having to tell your parents or carer if you are under the age of 16 - as long as you are mature enough to understand the advice and decisions being made about the provided contraception.

I can’t breastfeed and use emergency contraception – MYTH

• It is quite safe to use Levonelle while breastfeeding, but it is advised to avoid breastfeeding for one week after taking ellaOne.

My contraceptive options are the condom or the pill – MYTH

• There are 15 methods of contraception available in the UK – two of which can be used by men and the rest that can be used by women. While the male condom and the combined pill are the most well-known, they aren’t necessarily the most suitable methods for everyone.

Please visit our website for a list of contraceptives on offer from Oxford Online Pharmacy please please visit our website.