Home  / Health Services  / Emergency Contraceptive Pill
HEALTH SERVICES

Emergency Contraceptive Pill

Access emergency contraception quickly and discreetly at Life Pharmacy. Our experts are here to help

Book Now

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE FAQ

How does an ECP work?

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are a type of birth control medication that can be taken after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. They work by delaying or preventing ovulation, the release of an egg from the ovary, and therefore preventing pregnancy.

The emergency contraceptive pill will be most effective if you take it as soon as possible after unprotected sex. Taking the ECP within 24 hours is best, but it can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.

The ECP has been shown to prevent:

  • 95% of expected pregnancies when taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex
  • 85% if taken within 25 - 48 hours
  • 58% if taken within 49 - 72 hours

It’s important to note that the ECP does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you have any concerns speak with your Unichem Pharmacist, doctor or family planning clinic.

Tips & Advice

1

An accredited pharmacist will go through your current condition and may ask the following questions:

  • current contraception
  • why you need emergency contraception
  • the period since you last had unprotected sex in hours
  • period information or irregularities
  • medical conditions such as unexplained vaginal bleeding or Crohn’s disease
  • ongoing medications, including prescribed, over-the-counter, from a supermarket or health food shop
  • health symptoms such as burning or pain when passing urine, lower abdominal pain, pain during or after sex, unusual vaginal discharge, irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting.

Book now at your nearest pharmacy

Life Pharmacy Albany

219 Don McKinnon Drive, Albany, Auckland 0752

Get Directions
albany@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Ashburton

262 East Street Ashburton Canterbury 7700

Get Directions
techs@lifeashburton.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Barrington

Shop 54, Barrington Shopping Centre 256 Barrington Street Spreydon Christchurch Canterbury 8024

Get Directions
scripts@lifepharmacybarrington.co.nz
E-mail to book

Life Pharmacy Bayfair

19 Girven Road, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty 3116

Get Directions
bayfair@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Birkenhead

32 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead, Auckland 0626

Get Directions
birkenhead@lifepharmacy.co.nz, birkenhead.dispensary@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Blenheim

101A Market Street Blenheim Marlborough 7201

Get Directions
blenheim@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Botany

17/588 Chapel Road, Botany Road. Auckland 2013

Get Directions
disp@lifebotany.co.nz
BOOK NOW

Life Pharmacy Centre City

133 Great King Street Dunedin Central Dunedin 9016

Get Directions
dispensary.centrecity@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Chartwell

Shop 123 Chartwell Shopping Centre 201 Hukanui Road Chartwell Hamilton Waikato 3210

Get Directions
dispensary.chartwell@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Commercial Bay

Shop 12, Level 1, Commercial Bay, Auckland, 1010

Get Directions
commercialbay@lifepharmacy.co.nz
Book Now

Life Pharmacy Donna Kerr

48 Windsor Street Windsor Invercargill Southland 9810

Get Directions
lifepharmacy@donnakerr.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Eastridge

215 Kepa Road Mission Bay Ōrākei Auckland 1071

Get Directions
dispensary@lifeeastridge.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Franklin's

48 Queen St Warkworth Auckland 0910

Get Directions
retail@franklinspharmacy.co.nz
Call to book

Life Pharmacy Hornby

Hornby Mall, Shop 2, 418 Main South Road Hornby Christchurch Canterbury 8004

Get Directions
hornbymallpharmacy.disp@gmail.com
Call to book

Life Pharmacy Johnsonville

Shop 40, Johnsonville Shopping Centre 16, Broderick Road, Johnsonville, Wellington 6037

Get Directions
dispensary.johnsonville@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Kapiti Coast

2/11 Amohia Street Kapiti Lights Complex Paraparaumu Wellington 5032

Get Directions
lifekapiti@xtra.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy La Hood's

43 Main Street, Gore, Southland 9710

Get Directions
lahoods@xtra.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Manukau

Shop 38, Westfield Shopping Centre, Manukau 2241

Get Directions
manukau@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Matamata

54 Arawa Street, Matamata, WAIKATO, 3400

Get Directions
dispensary@lifematamata.co.nz
Call to book

Life Pharmacy Masterton

132-136 Queen Street Masterton Wairarapa 5810

Get Directions
thechemists@pharmacysolutions.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Meadowbank

Shop 2, Meadowbank Shopping Centre 35 St Johns Road St Johns Auckland 1072

Get Directions
meadowbank@lifepharmacy.co.nz
Book now

Life Pharmacy Milford

Shop 106 Milford Shopping Centre 24 Milford Rd Milford Auckland 0620

Get Directions
life@milfordpharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Motueka

179 High Street Motueka Tasman 7120

Get Directions
lifepharmacymotueka@gmail.com
call to book

Life Pharmacy Nelson City

191 Trafalgar Street Nelson 7010

Get Directions
lifepharmacynelsoncity@xtra.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy New Plymouth

Shop 13 Centre City Shopping Centre, 11 Gill Street, New Plymouth, Taranaki 4310

Get Directions
newplymouth@lifepharmacy.co.nz
Call to BOOK

Life Pharmacy Newmarket

Shop S334, Level 3, Westfield Newmarket 277-309 Broadway Newmarket Auckland 1023

Get Directions
pharmacist.newmarket@lifepharmacy.co.nz
Book now

Life Pharmacy Northwest

NorthWest Shopping Centre 7 Fred Taylor Drive Massey Auckland 0814

Get Directions
pharmacist@lifenorthwest.co.nz
Call to book

Life Pharmacy Orewa

8 Tamariki Avenue Ōrewa Auckland 0931

Get Directions
shop@lifepharmacyorewa.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Orrs

48 Cameron Street, Whangārei, 0110

Get Directions
camret@orrs.co.nz
Call to book

Life Pharmacy Papakura

102 Great South Road Roselands, Shopping Centre, Papakura, Auckland, 2110

Get Directions
retail@guyspharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Rangiora

172 High Street, Rangiora 7400

Get Directions
pharmacy@liferangiora.co.nz
BOOK NOW

Life Pharmacy Riccarton

Shop 45129 Riccarton Road Riccarton Christchurch Canterbury 8041

Get Directions
dispensary.riccarton@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy St Heliers Bay

23 Saint Heliers Bay Road, St Heliers, Auckland, 1071

Get Directions
lifesth@xtra.co.nz
CALL TO BOOK

Life Pharmacy St Lukes

80 St Lukes Road, Shop 524 Westfield Shopping Centre, Auckland 1346

Get Directions
dispensary.stlukes@lifepharmacy.co.nz
CALL TO BOOK

Life Pharmacy Sylvia Park

Shop N049, Sylvia Park Shopping Centre 286 Mt Wellington Highway Mt Wellington, Auckland

Get Directions
sylviapark@lifepharmacy.co.nz
Book now

Life Pharmacy Takapuna

52-56 Anzac Street Takapuna, Auckland 0622

Get Directions
takapuna@lifepharmacy.co.nz
CALL TO BOOK

Life Pharmacy Taupō

35-37 Heuheu Street, Taupō 3330

Get Directions
taupo@lifepharmacy.co.nz
CALL TO BOOK

Life Pharmacy Te Puke

61 Jellicoe Street, Te Puke, 3119

Get Directions
lifetepuke@baypharmacies.co.nz
Book Now

Life Pharmacy The Plaza

The Plaza Shopping Centre, 108/84 The Square, Palmerston North 4410

Get Directions
theplaza@lifepharmacy.co.nz
call to book

Life Pharmacy Wilkinsons

Cnr Rees Street & The Mall, Queenstown, Otago

Get Directions
info@wilkinsonspharmacy.co.nz
Book now