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Contraception and Emergency Contraception

Friends are important

Preventing pregnancy

Some people believe there are methods for preventing pregnancy without using contraception. You may hear about these methods from friends, both boys and girls. Some people may even claim they've tried them out.

Only using a reliable form of contraception as advised by your GP, or a doctor at a Sexual Health Clinic or another Health Worker, e.g. an adviser at a Bodyzone, will provide any useful protection against pregnancy

Crucial: Even with contraception, accidents can happen. The only absolutely foolproof way to prevent pregnancy is to not have sex at all.

Experience

I got pregnant at 15 and had my child at 16. Although I knew about the risks of unprotected sex, I thought that we would be safe. It was something that happened to other people who had sex all the time, not people like me. We had only done it a few times and I was going to get contraception. I love being a mum but if I am honest I wish that I had waited until I was older. Sometimes it is really hard and tiring especially when I don’t feel my best and my daughter gets ill. – Young Mum, 16, Oxford

Get clued up about contraception

The time to learn about contraception is before you start having sex. It’s your responsibility as a sexually active adult to know how to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

All methods have advantages and disadvantages. Your GP or family planning clinic will help you decide which is best for you. For example, if you are not good at remembering to take pills, the injection might suit you better.

Condoms, although widely available and very effective when used properly, offer slightly lower protection than hormonal methods like the contraceptive injection. If you're using condoms as your main contraception, you also need to know how to get emergency contraception, in case the condom splits or falls off.

Male Condoms Male condoms are widely available and protect against STIs and pregnancy. Make sure you know
how to put on and remove a condom properly. Practice in private. You can get free condoms from
family planning clinics, some GPs, Bodyzone and some youth centres. Condoms with the BSI Kitemark or European CE mark have passed strength and reliability tests. Always use water-based lubricants. Oily ones weaken the latex and can cause the condom to break.
Contraceptive pill Contraceptive pills use hormones to stop ovulation. They are 99% effective if you remember to take them every day. There may be side effects.
Contraceptive injections Contraceptive injections also use hormones. You have one every 8 or 12 weeks depending on the type. There may be side effects.
Emergency contraception Emergency contraception (the "morning after pill") works for up to 72 hours after intercourse. The earlier you take it the better. Available from a family planning clinic, GP, Bodyzone or Wellsafe. Pharmacists sell it to ages 16+. It is very effective and safe.

Crucial: only a condom protects against STIs like HIV. If you're uncertain about your partner's sexual health, you should use a condom even if you use another form of contraception to prevent pregnancy. Whatever anyone else tells you, using a condom with a new or casual partner is normal.

How to get contraception

You can get free, confidential advice about contraception at any age, and if you need contraception and are aware of the issues involved, there should be no problem sorting it out. Here’s how:

  1. Visit your GP, family planning clinic, Wellsafe or Bodyzone for free, confidential advice. Don’t be embarrassed. Most people need contraception, and doctors get asked about it all the time.
  2. The health practitioner will ask questions to make sure you understand what is being said. Depending on your age and situation, they may ask if you would like to consult your parents or partner. You can say no.
  3. Ask about the pros and cons of each method of contraception, including potential side effects.
  4. When you've decided, make sure you know how to use the contraception properly, how to renew your contraception, and what to do if your contraception fails.

Crucial: Sometimes side effects mean that a type of contraception is not suitable for certain women. If you have problems, go back to your GP or family planning clinic and ask for a different sort of contraception.

Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception (also called the "morning after pill" or EHC) works by stopping conception (getting pregnant). It can be taken up to 72 hours after you have had sex. The earlier you take it the better it works.

You can get emergency contraception from lots of places, including:

If you are a young woman under 18, you can get contraception free of charge from some Oxfordshire Chemists (also called pharmacists -- Boots is the most famous brand). Look for the ones displaying the 72 hours logo (left).

You can also buy Emergency Contraception over the counter from a Chemist if you are over 16.

Oxfordshire Chemists supplying free Emergency Contraception to young women

List last updated 3 April 2007

Lloyds Pharmacy

19 Bury Street

Abingdon

OX14 4QT

Boots the Chemist

27 Bury Street

Abingdon

OX14 3QT

Rowlands Pharmacy

58 Orchard Way

Banbury

OX16 0EN

Cross Chemist

12-14 West Bar

Banbury

OX16 9RR

Knights Pharmacy

2 Burchester Place, Grimsbury

Banbury

OX16 7WT

Jessica’s Pharmacy

Hardwick Shopping Centre, Ferriston

Banbury

OX16 7XE

Sainsbury’s Pharmacy

642 Oxford Road

Banbury

OX16 9XA

Boots the Chemist

33-35 Sheep Street

Bicester

OX26 6JJ

Cooks Chemist

The Old Barn, Coker Close

Bicester

OX26 6AE

Jardines Pharmacy

2 Nightingale Place, Langford Village

Bicester

OX26 6XX

Broadshires Pharmacy

Broadshires Way

Carterton

OX18 1JA

Chalgrove Pharmacy

60 High Street

Chalgrove

OX44 7SS

Rowlands

1 The Pound

Cholsey

OX10 9NS

Bretts Pharmacy

11-12 Millbrook Square

Grove

OX12 7JZ

Boots Pharmacy

5-7 Bell Street

Henley

RG9 2BA

Lloyds Pharmacy

25 Oxford Road

Kidlington

OX5 2BP

Rowlands Pharmacy

17 Ivy Close, Off Hollow Way

Oxford

OX4 2NB

Jenners Pharmacy

236-238 Cowley Road

Oxford

OX4 1UH

Lloyds Pharmacy

Blackbird Leys Health Centre

Oxford

OX4 7EX

The Leys Pharmacy (in Spar) Spar, Dunnock Way Oxford OX4 7EX

Smiths Chemist

172 Kennington Road

Oxford

OX1 5PG

Boots The Chemist

6-8 Cornmarket Street

Oxford

OX1 3HL

Barton Pharmacy

6 Underhill Circus, Barton

Oxford

OX3 9LU

Bliep Pharmacy

190 Abingdon Road

Oxford

OX1 4RA

The Woodlands Pharmacy

Botley Road

Oxford

OX2 0BU

Sainsbury Pharmacy

Heyford Hill, Cowley

Oxford

OX4 4XR

Boots Chemist

151a Cowley Road

Oxford

OX4 1JJ

Rowlands Pharmacy

57 Osler Road, Headington

Oxford

OX3 9BH

Lloyds Pharmacy

1 Woodstock Road

Oxford

OX2 6HA

Boots the Chemist

221 Banbury Road

Oxford

OX2 7HO

Llloyds Pharmacy 3-4 The Square, West Way, Botley Oxford OX2 9LH

Boots the Chemist

7-8 Market Place

Wallingford

OX10 0EG

Lloyds Pharmacy

20-21 Market Place

Wallingford

OX10 0AD

Boots the Chemist

50-51 Market Place

Wantage

OX12 8AW

Lloyds Pharmacy

The Health Centre, Mably Way

Wantage

OX12 9BN

Moss Pharmacy

3 Edington Square, Deer Park

Witney

OX28 5YT

Rowlands Pharmacy

Nuffield Health Centre, Welch Way

Witney

OX28 6JQ

Lloyds Pharmacy

24-26 High Street

Witney

OX28 6HB

Boots

2-8 High Street

Witney

OX28 6HA

Woodstock Pharmacy

24 High Street

Woodstock

OX20 1TF

There is also a printable full list of Pharmacies in Oxfordshire currently offering EHC to young women, with opening times and phone numbers. Download it here. (Word, 75K)

You can find out more about contraceptives and sex from these helplines:

Experience

On my first visit to the Alec Turnbull clinic I saw Carrie, the nurse. She was friendly and explained everything. She said she would not write to my doctor if I didn’t want her to. I didn’t have to give my name and address, but I didn’t mind because they said they wouldn’t write home. She asked a lot of questions about my health and my family to make sure that if I went on the pill I wouldn’t have dangerous side effects. Then I saw the doctor. I was glad it was a lady doctor. She gave me the pills and told me how to take them and when. She said I could ring or come back if I had any problems. If you are thinking about going to a Family Planning Clinic, don’t worry. Everyone is nice to you. I thought they might tell me to take all my clothes off, but all you have is a blood pressure test and they weigh you. – Rebecca

More Sexual Health and contraception information websites

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