Also known as the morning after pill or Plan B, the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) is a single dose tablet that is used as a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy when used within a specific timeframe after unprotected sex. Pharmacies in New Zealand are able to provide patients a prompt and convenient access to this service through a consultation with the pharmacist. This post will introduce you to how the emergency contraceptive pill works and how to access it in New Zealand Pharmacies.

How It Works

The emergency contraceptive pill is a single tablet containing 1.5 levonorgestrel. It is designed to be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, but it can be used up until 72 hours afterwards. It works by preventing or delaying the release of an egg from the ovaries, which means the sperm cannot fertilize the egg. This means when you have had sex without protection or your normal contraception fails (such as condom breaking), you may take an emergency contraceptive pill within the next 72 hours to prevent unwanted pregnancy. The sooner you take it, the more effective it is. If it has been more than 72 hours, you can still take the ECP however the effectiveness is compromised and you may be advised to attempt to get an IUD from your family doctor or family planning clinic instead.

Unfortunately, the emergency contraceptive pill is not a 100% guarantee for preventing pregnancy. A copper IUD from either your GP or family planning may be more effective in preventing pregnancy. Another benefit of the IUD is that it will be effective for up to 5 days after unprotected sex, rather than the 3 days with the emergency contraceptive pill.

How to get it

Pharmacies provide a convenient and easy access to the emergency contraceptive pill in New Zealand. This involves a consultation with a pharmacist who can then provide it to you. When you go into a pharmacy, you may have to ask the pharmacy assistant or pharmacy technician to talk to a pharmacist. You can mention that you are wanting the emergency contraceptive pill. If you want to keep it discrete, simply say you want a private consultation. As discretion is an important part of pharmacy practice, the staff should understand and get the pharmacist for you. Every pharmacy is required to have a private consultation area. The pharmacist will ask you to go there to in order to have a private and discrete consultation.
You may also get a prescription for the ECP through your family doctor or family planning clinic.

If you feel uncomfortable with doing the consultation, just remember that this service is one of the most common services provided in pharmacies. Pharmacists are trained to perform this consultation in a discrete and confidential manner. You can bring another person along if that makes you more comfortable. You may also ask for a female pharmacist if you prefer.

The consultation itself involves going through a checklist to make sure that it is appropriate for your situation, as well as giving you advice on how to take it, side effects involved, and when to seek further advice. The pharmacist will usually ask you the following questions:
– Did you have unprotected sex / did your contraception fail?
– How long ago did this happen?
– Are you currently taking any medications?
– Do you have any medical conditions?
– When was your last period?
– Was your last period normal or was it unusually light/heavy?
– Do you weigh over 70kg/is your BMI over 30?

Once the consultation is over, you will have to provide your details in order for the pharmacist to record it on their system. They will then be able to provide you with the emergency contraceptive pill which you will have to pay for. The cost for this depends on the pharmacy that you go to, usually ranging from $20-40. Certain regions may provide free ECPs for certain age groups – The pharmacist will be able to tell you if you qualify for a free ECP.

Frequenty Asked Questions

• How soon after unprotected sex/contraceptive failure can you take the emergency contraceptive pill?
  • The ECP is effective up to 72 hours after unprotected sex/contraceptive failure.
• How much does it cost?
  • The ECP may cost between $20 to $40 depending on the pharmacy. Some pharmacies may be able to provide free ECPs for certain age groups.
• Are my details going to be shared with anyone?
  • The information obtained in order to provide the ECP is confidential. This means that no one else should be able to access it unless you give specific permission. Nothing will be posted to your address and no one will receive notification that you have had it.
• Can someone else buy the ECP for me?
  • Usually the consultation must be done in person with the person receiving the ECP. This is due to the fact that the pharmacist must be satisfied that the person has received appropriate advice and has given informed consent. In certain cases where the woman is unable to make it to the pharmacy, the pharmacist may choose to do it over the phone instead. In all cases, the person receiving the ECP must be involved in a conversation with the pharmacist.