Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception offers women and girls an important second chance to prevent pregnancy when a regular method fails, no method was used, or sex was forced. If you act quickly, emergency contraception will usually prevent pregnancy.

Emergency contraceptive pills are made of the same hormone contained in ordinary hormonal contraceptives, progesterone. This means that they work in the same way by preventing or delaying ovulation. Emergency contraceptive pills can be used up to 72 hours after sex but are more effective the sooner they are taken.

In some cases a copper intrauterine device (IUCD) is more suitable and can be fitted as emergency contraception for up to 5 days after unprotected sex.

What's Involved

IFPA clinics offer a walk-in emergency contraception service at our two clinics in Dublin. The consultation will take 10-15 minutes during which the doctor will administer the emergency contraceptive pill to you.

It is important to remember that emergency contraception will not prevent you from getting an STI. If you have had unprotected sex, it is possible that you have contracted an STI and you might need to have STI screening.

Cost:

€30 for a walk-in emergency contraception consultation (including emergency contraceptive pill
€60 for emergency contraception consultation and full contraception consultation (including emergency contraception pill)
€200 insertion of copper intrauterine device (IUCD)

Contact:

• Cathal Brugha Street Clinic, Dublin 1
• Tallaght Clinic, Tallaght Shopping Centre, Dublin 24

More:

• Emergency Contraception Explained
• Myths & Facts about Emergency Contraceptive Pill
• IFPA Factsheet about Emergency Contraception (PDF)