Emergency Contraception
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Access Contraception Directly from Your Pharmacy — Free on the NHS
Pearl Chemist Group is proud to offer the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS) across all 29 of our South London and Surrey branches, including Banstead, Byfleet, Cannon Hill, Cobham, Earlsfield, Epsom, London, Merton, Mitcham, Morden, Northcote Road, Streatham, Tolworth, Tooting, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, and Kingston upon Thames. This is a fully commissioned NHS Advanced Service, meaning the consultation and any contraception provided are completely free of charge — with no GP appointment, no prescription, and no referral needed.¹
You can simply walk in to any of our branches and speak to a trained pharmacist in a private consultation room. Everything discussed is treated in the strictest confidence.
What is the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service?
The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS) provides a national model for community pharmacy teams to initiate and continue the supply of oral contraception, and to provide free oral emergency contraception to individuals of childbearing potential — helping to reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse or where regular contraception has been compromised or used incorrectly.1
The service was established to give people greater choice about where they access contraception — reducing pressure on GP practices and sexual health clinics, and making contraception more accessible for everyone, including those not registered with a GP.2
This service supports tackling health inequalities by providing wider access to contraception services across the community — at a pharmacy of your choice, with no requirement to be registered with a GP.1
What Does the Service Include?
The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service at Pearl Chemist Group covers two areas:
Oral Contraception (the Pill)
Our trained pharmacists can start you on the pill for the first time, continue your existing supply, or help you switch to a different type — all free on the NHS.2
Available pills include:
- Combined oral contraceptive pill — oestrogen and progestogen; typically taken for 21 days with a 7-day break
- Progestogen-only pill (mini pill) — one hormone; taken every day without a break
- Drospirenone — a newer progestogen-only pill included in the service since October 2025
Eligibility:
- Combined pill: from menarche up to and including age 49
- Progestogen-only pill: from menarche up to and including age 543
Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)
Since October 2025, the service includes free oral emergency contraception — available at any PCG branch without an appointment. The sooner it is taken, the more effective it is.4
Two options:
- Levonelle — must be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex
- ellaOne — can be taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex5
Please note: The morning after pill is not an abortion pill. It works by preventing or delaying ovulation and will not affect an existing pregnancy.5
During your emergency contraception consultation, our pharmacist will also speak with you about more effective forms of emergency contraception — including the copper IUD (coil), which can be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex and is the most effective emergency contraceptive available. If an IUD is the right option for you, we will refer you to the appropriate service.2
Important: Oral emergency contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you have concerns about STIs, please speak to our pharmacist who can advise and signpost you to the appropriate service.
What Is Not Included?
The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service covers oral contraception and oral emergency contraception only. It does not cover:3
- Contraceptive injections or implants
- IUDs or IUS (coils)
- Contraceptive patches or vaginal rings
- Condoms
For any of the above, our pharmacist can advise you and refer you to your GP or a local sexual health clinic.
What Happens During Your Consultation?
Your consultation is free, private, and confidential — taking place in a dedicated consultation room at your chosen Pearl Chemist Group branch.
Walk In — No Appointment Needed
Visit any of our 29 South London branches. No appointment is required. Our pharmacist will see you as soon as possible — particularly for emergency contraception, where speed matters.
Private Consultation
A trained pharmacist will conduct a brief, confidential one-to-one consultation to understand your needs and health background.
Brief Health Checks
The pharmacist may ask about your blood pressure, height, and weight — particularly if you are starting or continuing the combined pill. This ensures the right contraception is recommended for you safely.
Supply or Referral
Based on your consultation, your pharmacist will supply the appropriate contraception or, if the service is not suitable for you, refer you to the most appropriate alternative provider.
Consent and GP Sharing
Where you consent, a summary of your consultation can be shared with your GP practice. This is entirely your choice — the service is confidential regardless.
Who Can Access This Service?
You can access the NHS Contraception Service at Pearl Chemist Group if you are:2
- Seeking oral emergency contraception following unprotected sex or a contraception failure
- Seeking to start oral contraception for the first time
- Seeking to continue your current oral contraceptive supply
- Not currently registered with a GP — registration is not required to access this service
You do not need a GP referral, a prescription, or an appointment. You can also be referred to us by your GP, a sexual health clinic, NHS 111, or an urgent treatment centre.2
Confidentiality and Under-16s
The service is free and confidential for everyone — including people under the age of 16.6
If you are under 16, our pharmacist will not share information with your parents or carers, provided they are satisfied that you understand the information given and are making your own informed decisions. Our pharmacists work under strict clinical and safeguarding guidelines when consulting with under-16s.6
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an appointment?
No. You can walk in to any of our 29 branches. Our pharmacists will see you as soon as possible — particularly for emergency contraception, where timing is important.
Is it really free?
Yes. The consultation and any contraception supplied through the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service are completely free of charge.1
Do I need to be registered with a GP?
No. You do not need to be registered with a GP to access this service.2
Will my GP be told?
Only if you give your consent. Your pharmacist will ask whether you would like a summary of your consultation shared with your GP practice. The service is fully confidential regardless of your choice.6
Can I start the pill for the first time at a pharmacy?
Yes. Our pharmacists can initiate oral contraception for you — you do not need to visit your GP first.2
What if oral contraception is not suitable for me?
If, following your consultation, oral contraception is not clinically appropriate for you, our pharmacist will advise you and refer you to the most suitable service — such as your GP or a local sexual health clinic.
What if I have already taken the morning after pill recently?
Please speak to our pharmacist directly. They will assess your individual circumstances and advise on the most appropriate course of action.
Does the morning after pill affect my long-term fertility?
No. Emergency contraception does not affect your long-term fertility. It may cause your next period to be earlier, later, or slightly different to usual.5
What about STIs?
Oral contraception and emergency contraception do not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Our pharmacist can advise you and signpost you to local sexual health services if needed.
Speak to Your Pharmacy Team
Walk in to any Pearl Chemist Group branch — no appointment needed. Or use our app to message your local team directly before you visit.
Download Our App
Message your local branch directly via the Pearl Chemist Group app
Available on the App Store and Google Play
Call us: 020 8672 2157
Find your nearest branch → pearlchemistgroup.co.uk/pharmacy-locator
Disclaimer: This page is for information purposes only. The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service is delivered by trained pharmacists following an individual clinical consultation. The service covers oral contraception and oral emergency contraception only. For other contraceptive methods or urgent medical concerns, please contact your GP, a sexual health clinic, or NHS 111.
References
All clinical content on this page is sourced from the following:
- 1. Community Pharmacy England (CPE). Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS). cpe.org.uk/national-pharmacy-services/advanced-services/pharmacy-contraception-service
- 2. NHS England. NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service — service specification. england.nhs.uk/long-read/nhs-pharmacy-contraception-service
- 3. NHSBSA. NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service. nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp-practices-and-appliance-contractors/dispensing-contractors-information/nhs-pharmacy-contraception-service
- 4. CPE Briefing 016/25. Pharmacy Contraception Advanced Service — What's changing? (October 2025 expansion including oral emergency contraception). cpe.org.uk
- 5. NHS. Emergency contraception. nhs.uk/contraception/emergency-contraception
- 6. iCaSH NHS. NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service — confidentiality and access. icash.nhs.uk/contraception-and-sexual-health/contraception/nhs-pharmacy-contraception-service
Emergency Contraception in Wandsworth, Streatham, and South London
Pearl Chemist Group knows that accidents happen. If your contraception has failed or you have had unprotected sex within the last 5 days, we can help with our emergency contraception service.
Commonly referred to as the ‘morning after pill,’ emergency contraception can be up to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy depending on how soon you take it. With several locations throughout South London, your nearest PCG pharmacy can provide you with the morning after pill quickly, safely, and discreetly.
There are two types of emergency contraception:
- The morning after pill, Levonelle or ellaOne
- An IUD (intrauterine device) or Coil
Emergency Contraception Fast Facts
- The sooner you take the emergency contraceptive pill, the more effective it will be.
- Levonelle needs to be taken within 3 days to be effective.
- ellaOne can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex.
- The morning after pill will not cause an abortion.
- An IUD or coil can be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
- An IUD or coil is the most effective method of preventing pregnancy, but needs to be fitted at a sexual health/GUM clinic or GP surgery.
- Once fitted, an IUD can be used as a regular form of birth control.
Who can take the morning after pill?
Most women can use the emergency contraceptive pill, including those under 16 and those who normally can’t use hormonal contraception like the combined pill or patch.
You may not be able to take the morning after pill if you take:
- St John’s Wort
- Some antibiotics like Rifampicin and Rifabutin
- Acid reflux medication such as Omeprazole
- Some medicines are used to treat epilepsy, HIV, or Tuberculosis.
Women with severe asthma or who are allergic to any of the morning after pill’s ingredients may not be able to take it. Your PCG pharmacist will be able to advise whether emergency contraception is right for you.
Is the Morning After Pill Safe?
- Emergency contraception doesn’t cause any serious side effects.
- The morning after pill may give you a headache, or stomach pain, make you feel nauseous, or cause you to be sick.
- If you throw up within 2 hours of taking Levonelle or 3 hours of taking ellaOne, speak to your GP, pharmacist, or nearest GUM clinic right away.
- The emergency contraceptive pill won’t impact your long-term fertility but can make your next period earlier, later, or more painful than usual.
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