Emergency Contraception

Publish Date: 9 Mar 2010

Accidents happen. Maybe the condom broke. Or you forgot to take your birth control pill, or maybe you just didn’t plan to have sex. Don’t let one little accident turn into an unplanned pregnancy. Emergency Contraception is safe, effective and available.

There are many urban myths circulating about emergency contraception. SHine SA’s Sexual Health Awareness Week for 2010 focused on Emergency Contraception, with a campaign aiming to increase knowledge in the South Australian community about the safety, effectiveness and availability of emergency contraception by providing accurate information and 'busting the myths'.

Recent Australian studies have shown that there is poor understanding in the Australian community about this safe and effective method of reducing unwanted pregnancy when unprotected sex has occurred. As well, this research suggests that stigma and privacy can be important barriers to Australian women approaching a pharmacist to ask about emergency contraception. Where there is no opportunity to speak to a pharmacist in a confidential manner about this sensitive matter, it can be difficult for women to ask for emergency contraception over the counter.

SHine SA has developed an Emergency Contraception wallet card which asks: 'Can I talk to you about Emergency Contraception?'. This can be handed over the pharmacy counter, helping to open a sensitive conversation.

These cards are available from Shine SA, along with our Emergency Contraception postcards. They can be ordered on the SHine SA resources order form

You can also download the 'Busting the Myths' fact sheet and the media release on Emergency Contraception.

Emergency Contraception: Busting the Myths

Media Release: Emergency Contraception Focus of Sexual Health Awareness Week