Emergency contraception
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Emergency contraception is a way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.
If you didn’t use contraception the last time you had sex — or if your contraception didn’t work — you may want to use emergency contraception.
There are two types of emergency contraception available in Aotearoa:
- The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) — the ECP is a pill you can take in the three days after unprotected sex. It has also been called the morning after pill. The ECP can work for up to four days after sex, but the sooner you take it the better
- The copper IUD — the copper IUD can be used as a form of emergency contraception. It needs to be put in up to five days after unprotected sex. You can keep it in for 5-10 years for ongoing contraception — or you can get it removed earlier
The type of emergency contraception that works best for you will depend on a few things — your body weight, and the length of time since you had unprotected sex.
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Emergency contraceptive pill (ECP)
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How we can help you
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It’s important to act quickly, if you’ve had unprotected sex.
We can:
- Help you work out what to do next
- Help you decide which emergency contraception is best for you
- Prescribe you the ECP at our clinics or over the phone
- Give you a prescription for the ECP in advance — so you have emergency contraception at home, just in case
- Insert a copper IUD — we have experienced nurses, and doctors who are trained to insert IUDs
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How to get emergency contraception
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You can get the ECP from our clinics. You can also buy the ECP directly from most pharmacies, but it may be more expensive — usually between $35 and $50.
If you want an IUD for emergency contraception, make an appointment with us.
If you’re not sure what type of emergency contraception to use, make an appointment with us — we can help you work it out.
When you talk to one of our nurses or doctors about emergency contraception, they will ask you a few important questions. Their questions will include:
- How long ago did you have unprotected sex?
- What is your body weight?
These are personal questions — but they’re really important for us to ask. These questions help us make sure you get emergency contraception that works for you.
Need urgent help?
If you require medical advice outside of our opening hours, call Healthline for free on 0800 611 116 anytime or get help from an after-hours medical centre.
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What does an appointment cost?
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Our appointments are free for New Zealand residents under 22 years old. If you are 22 years, or older, you’ll pay our standard appointment fees — unless you are eligible for subsidised health care, or you have a Community Services Card. If you are eligible for subsidised health care, your appointment will be free. If you have a Community Services Card, your appointment will cost $5.
If you’re not a New Zealand resident, you’ll need to pay non-resident fees.
Check out our fees page for more details.
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