Study highlights impact of fast pharmacy access to the morning-after pill

UK researchers from South West Kent Primary Care Trust and the University of Bradford looked at 203 females aged from 13 to 20 who got the medication from family planning clinics and community pharmacies.

They discovered that those who went to a pharmacy to get the morning-after pill obtained it more than twice as quickly as those who went to their local clinic – in 16 hours rather than 41.

Figures from the World Health Organization suggest that taking emergency contraception up to 24 hours after unprotected sex prevents 95% of pregnancies, while taking it between 24 and 48 hours later prevents 85%.

The study also found that older teenagers tended to seek help quicker, with 14 year-olds taking almost four times as long (37 hours) as 20 year-olds (10 hours).

The time it took to get the morning-after pill from family planning clinics was much more consistent, with the majority waiting between 38 and 42 hours. In addition, 72% of those who obtained the morning-after pill from clinics were aged between 15 and 17, while 74% of those who went to pharmacies were between 16 and 18.

The morning-after pill has traditionally been provided free in the UK by family doctors and family planning clinics. It became available over-the-counter at pharmacies in 2001.

Selected community pharmacists can now provide it free of charge to females under 20 as long as they feel that all the appropriate conditions have been satisfied and that she is competent to make the decision to take it. This is an important development, especially for young girls who can’t afford to pay the over-the-counter cost, which recently increased to GBP25.