Emergency or quick-access advice.
Pharmacies and sexual health services can provide emergency contraception and confidential advice. Do not wait for a routine appointment if timing matters.
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Contraception questions · GP care
Choose with confidence. Review what suits you now.
The right contraceptive choice depends on your health, priorities and how you prefer to use it. A focused consultation can compare options, review side effects and identify when a sexual health or fitting service is the better route.
Some methods need a blood-pressure check, pregnancy assessment, examination or in-person fitting. A consultation does not guarantee a particular method or prescription.
Choose a suitable route
Choose the right starting point.
Routine method reviews can often begin remotely, while urgent questions and methods that need fitting require a different route.
Compare, start or review a method.
Discuss effectiveness, bleeding changes, side effects, medical history, medicines and preferences. A blood-pressure reading may be needed for some choices.
Explore GP appointmentsFitting, removal or examination.
Coils and implants require a trained in-person service. Pain, unusual bleeding, missing threads or possible pregnancy may also need examination or testing.
Explore NHS contraceptionCondoms are the only contraceptive method that also reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. STI testing is available through confidential sexual health services.
Notice the pattern
What changes the next step.
Your priorities and health history help narrow the choice.
Daily or low-maintenance
Some people prefer a daily pill; others want an implant, injection or coil that does not need daily action.
Bleeding preferences
Methods can make periods lighter, irregular or stop, and the likely pattern differs between options.
Medical considerations
Migraine with aura, blood-clot history, smoking, blood pressure, breastfeeding and some medicines can affect suitability.
Future plans
How soon you may want pregnancy, and how quickly fertility returns, can be part of the decision.
Tell the clinician about prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal medicines. Some treatments can make hormonal contraception less effective.
A focused GP assessment
Compare methods without reducing the decision to a checklist.
A clinician can explain benefits, limitations and likely side effects, then help identify any safety checks or in-person steps.
Explore in-person GP care01
Clarify what matters.
Discuss effectiveness, ease of use, privacy, periods, skin, mood, sexual health and pregnancy plans.
02
Check clinical suitability.
Review medical and family history, migraine, clot risk, smoking, medicines, blood pressure, pregnancy possibility and breastfeeding.
03
Plan safe access.
Agree whether advice can be completed remotely or whether you need a measurement, test, examination, prescription, fitting or specialist clinic.
A proportionate plan
Make a safe, informed choice.
Contraception should fit your life as well as your health. It may take a review or a change of method to find the best balance.
01
Short-acting methods
Pills, patches and vaginal rings need regular use. Suitability and what to do after a missed dose depend on the exact product.
02
Long-acting methods
Implants, hormonal coils and copper coils are highly effective and need in-person fitting and removal by a trained clinician.
03
Barrier and permanent options
Condoms add STI protection. Diaphragms, caps and permanent methods have different access, use and counselling needs.
Do not rely on general missed-pill advice unless it matches the exact pill you take. Check the patient leaflet or seek prompt pharmacy, sexual health or clinical advice.
Prepare for a useful review
Know the method—and the question.
Bring the name or a photograph of your current contraception, when you last used it, your last period, any missed doses and dates of unprotected sex if relevant.
Have a recent blood-pressure reading if you can. List migraines, clotting history, smoking, pregnancy or breastfeeding, medicines and the side effects or benefits most important to you.
Explore GP appointments ↗Good to know
Questions about contraception.
Practical answers to help you choose a sensible next step without trying to diagnose the concern yourself.
Can contraception be prescribed after a video appointment?
Sometimes, if the clinician has enough information and any required checks are available. Some methods need an in-person measurement, test or fitting, and prescribing is never automatic.
Where should I go for emergency contraception?
Contact a pharmacy, sexual health clinic, GP or NHS 111 as soon as possible. The copper IUD is the most effective emergency option and must be fitted by a trained clinician.
Do hormonal methods protect against STIs?
No. Condoms are the only contraceptive method that also reduce STI risk. A sexual health clinic can offer confidential testing and advice.
What if I missed a pill or my injection is late?
The answer depends on the exact method and timing. Check the product leaflet and seek prompt pharmacy or clinical advice, particularly if you have had unprotected sex.
Clinical information: NHS contraceptionNHS emergency contraceptionNHS sexual health services. This information is general and does not replace individual medical advice.