Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC), often called the morning-after pill, is a service that can be provided by pharmacists to females in a community pharmacy setting. The service aims to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and improve access to sexual health advice.
Aims of the EHC service
When a patient requests EHC, the pharmacist provides more than just the medication. The consultation is a valuable opportunity to provide advice and support, including:
Improving access: Ensuring females can quickly and discreetly access EHC and sexual health advice.
Preventing pregnancies: Providing EHC to reduce unintended pregnancies.
Sexual health advice: Discussing the risks of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and advising on safe sex.
Referrals: Referring clients to appropriate services, such as:
Mainstream contraceptive services for ongoing needs.
STI clinics for testing and treatment if a risk is identified.
This service helps to increase knowledge about sexual health and the availability of EHC in a community pharmacy, particularly among young people.