Contraception just got easier

It’s getting easier to get contraceptive advice. A new scheme for 15-19 year olds will provide free advice, pregnancy testing, condoms and, if appropriate, the ‘morning after pill’ through local chemists wherever you see this sign.

Women can get help and advice about contraception from a range of services such as GPs or the ‘walk in centre’ at the Hallamshire.  All pharmacists can also give advice and can perform pregnancy tests and, since the start of the year, they have been able to sell the morning after pill to adults without a prescription although the cost (£20) can be a problem.

Despite this many young people find it difficult to get advice, particularly within the 72 hours after unprotected sex when the ‘morning after pill’ can be effective. As Sheffield’s part of the Government’s strategy to halve teenage pregnancy by 2010, a new scheme has been started to supply free advice, testing and contraception to 15-19 year olds through local chemists.

In Burngreave, the Wicker Chemist is the first pharmacy to take part. Julie Grigg, one of the pharmacists who has been on the special training course, said they have already started to see a few girls under the new scheme. As well as learning more about the contraceptives they are taught about how to make sure teenagers understand the advice being offered.  She told us that if you want to get advice you should ring NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 to find out when a pharmacist with the training would be available.

What’s the ‘morning after pill’?

The morning after pill, or Levonelle, is related to the oral contraceptive and contains the hormone progesterone. You can take two pills, twelve hours apart, which reduce the risk of getting pregnant after unprotected sex. The first pill can be taken up to 72 hours after sex, not just on ‘the morning after’.

Doesn’t it make you sick?

It can make you feel a bit nauseous, but much less than the original ‘morning after pill’ which did make a lot of women feel sick.

Is it safe?

It is very widely used and is thought to be very safe if taken according to the advice. Of course it doesn’t protect against diseases such as chlamydia or HIV.

If you have sex its always safer to use a condom!

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