Young Persons Walk-in Clinic · Wednesdays 2:00pm — 4:15pm · Under 21s
Young Persons Walk-in Clinic · Wednesdays 2:00pm — 4:15pm · Under 21s
There’s no single method that suits everyone, and it’s completely normal to try more than one before you find the right fit. Our team can talk you through every option and take a medical history to rule out anything unsuitable. Looking for longer-lasting options? See our LARC page for the implant, injection, patch and coils.
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Contraception is free through our service.
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Only condoms also help protect against STIs.
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Every method works by keeping egg and sperm apart, or stopping ovulation.
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No single method suits everyone
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Many people use different methods at different points in their lives.
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The right choice depends on reliability, effect on you, and any medical conditions.
Used each time
Also helps prevent STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV, as well as pregnancy.
Also protects against STIs
98% effective
If you’re ready to start to thinking about having sex, or already having sex, then it’s a good time to think about how you will keep yourself sexually healthy. Condoms are the only way to help prevent the spread of infection. That’s really important if you don’t want to catch or spread an STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) like chlamydia, gonorrhoea or HIV. They also are a good way to prevent pregnancy.
How effective is the male Condom?
Condoms are 98% effective if used correctly. This means 2 out of 100 women will become pregnant in one year when male condoms are used as contraception.
How do I use the condom?
If you are using gels or other lubricants they need to be water-based, oil-based versions can damage the latex condom, making it more likely to split.
If the condom splits, it will not have protected you and if you are using it for prevention of pregnancy, you will need Emergency Contraception.
Click here for more information on the male condoms
Changed weekly
A skin patch releasing the same hormones as the combined pill. Still works even if you’ve had sickness or diarrhoea.
Not for smokers 35+
99%+ if used correctly
This is a pill that contains synthetic hormones that are similar to the ones fertile women naturally produce, in their ovaries called progesterone and oestrogen. There are different types of pills that have slightly different levels of the hormones.
How does it work?
It works by preventing a woman from ovulating (releasing an egg).
It also thickens the mucous that sits in the cervix (neck of the womb) making it difficult for the sperm to swim through and it makes the lining of the uterus (womb) thin, so the environment isn’t suitable for implantation of an egg.
How effective is it?
When taken correctly, the pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. As with most methods, the pill will work really well to prevent a pregnancy, but doesn’t protect you from sexually transmitted infections, so you will need to use condoms as well.
What are the side effects?
Blood Clots
The oestrogen in the pill may cause your blood to clot more readily. The risk of getting a blood clot is very small. But If a blood clot develops, it could cause: deep vein thrombosis (clot in your leg) , pulmonary embolus (clot in your lung) or even more rarely a stroke or heart attack.
Breast Cancer
Research is still ongoing into the link between breast cancer and the pill. Current research suggests that users of all types of hormonal contraception have a slightly higher chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared to women who do not use them. However, 10 years after you stop taking the pill, your risk of breast cancer goes back to normal.
The combined pill can cause temporary side effects, too at first, like headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings – if these do not go after a few months, it may help to change to a different type of pill
The Combined pill can sometimes increase your blood pressure, so we will check this soon after you have been prescribed the pill.
What happens if I miss taking one of my pills?
The pill is only 99% effective if its taken properly If you miss a pill or pills, or you start a pack late, it can make the pill less effective at preventing a pregnancy.
The chance of getting pregnant after missing a pill or pills depends on: when the pills are missed and how many pills are missed.
What to do if you miss a combined pill.
Find out what to do if you miss a combined pill here.
What do I do if I have sickness and or diarrhoea?
If you vomit within two hours of taking the combined pill, it may not have had time to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Take another pill straight away and the next pill at your usual time.
If you continue to be sick, keep using another form of contraception until you’ve taken the pill for another seven days without vomiting.
Very severe diarrhoea (six to eight watery stools in 24 hours) may also mean that the pill doesn’t work properly. Keep taking your pill as normal, but use additional contraception, such as condoms, while you have diarrhoea and for two days after recovering. Also do seek medical help if the diarrhoea and vomiting is this severe.
If you are in any doubt about what to do, don’t ignore it, just contact us on 0800 7720478
Click here for more information on the combined pill
3–10 years, no daily routine
The implant, injection, patch, IUD and IUS are all covered on our LARC page.
Used each time
A soft pouch you can insert ahead of time. A good non-hormonal option that also helps prevent STIs.
Also protects against STIs
95% effective
The female condom is a soft, loose fitting pouch with a ring on each end. Unlike a male condom you can put the female condom in ahead of time, before sex begins.
How effective is the female Condom?
The female condom is slightly less effective than the male condom and is 95% effective if used correctly. This means 5 out of 100 women will become pregnant in one year when female condoms are used as contraception.
How do I use the condom?
Click here for more information on the female condoms
Taken daily, no break
Contains one hormone only, so it’s an option if you can’t take oestrogen. Taken continuously, pack to pack.
Periods may change
99% if taken correctly
The progestogen only pill (POP) contains only one hormone, progestogen. Unlike the COC pill, POPs need to be taken every day without a break. Once one pack has been finished, a new one can be started straight away. It’s a useful alternative for women that can’t have the combined pill because of the Oestrogen.
How effective is the POP?
The POP is 99% effective if taken correctly.
How does it work?
The POP thickens the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from meeting the egg whilst also thinning the lining of the womb. In some women, ovulation also stops.
What are the disadvantages?
Missing pills, vomiting or severe diarrhoea may make the pill less effective.
Periods may stop or be irregular, lighter or more frequent. It is not a problem if they stop; it is because it’s working well to keep the lining in your uterus (womb) thin, so that there is little or nothing to shed.
Click here for more information on the progestogen-only pill
The combined contraceptive pill is a daily oral medication containing estrogen and progestogen that prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation, thickening cervical mucus, and thinning the womb lining
Periods may change
99% if taken correctly
The progestogen only pill (POP) contains only one hormone, progestogen. Unlike the COC pill, POPs need to be taken every day without a break. Once one pack has been finished, a new one can be started straight away. It’s a useful alternative for women that can’t have the combined pill because of the Oestrogen.
How effective is the POP?
The POP is 99% effective if taken correctly.
How does it work?
The POP thickens the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from meeting the egg whilst also thinning the lining of the womb. In some women, ovulation also stops.
What are the disadvantages?
Missing pills, vomiting or severe diarrhoea may make the pill less effective.
Periods may stop or be irregular, lighter or more frequent. It is not a problem if they stop; it is because it’s working well to keep the lining in your uterus (womb) thin, so that there is little or nothing to shed.
Click here for more information on the progestogen-only pill
Talk it through with us
Call us on 01432 483693 or 0800 772 0478 — our team can help you choose and check what’s suitable for you.
Don’t ignore the risk — the sooner you act, the more effective emergency contraception is. If you think it’s too late, please still get in touch; there may still be something we can do.
Act within 3–5 days
One option must be taken within 3 days of unprotected sex, another within 5 — the sooner, the more effective.
Act within 5 days
Fitted by a trained doctor or nurse within 5 days of unprotected sex, or 5 days after your earliest likely ovulation date.
Boots Hereford
01432 274941
Boots Ledbury
01531 632687
Boots Leominster
01568 612721
Boots Ross-on-Wye
01989 562798
Bromyard Pharmacy
01885 483291
Chandos Pharmacy, Hereford
01432 272065
Chave & Jackson Pharmacy
01432 272152
Day Lewis Pharmacy, Hereford
01432 343121
Day Lewis Pharmacy, Ledbury
01531 632693
Healthpoint Colwall Pharmacy
01684 540246
Leominster Pharmacy
01568 615429
Lloyds Pharmacy
01432 371512
Morrisons Pharmacy
01432 341007
Sainsburys Pharmacy (Lloyds)
01432 375979
Taylors Pharmacy
01432 264242
W S and B Rees Pharmacy
01568 612306
Westfield Walk Pharmacy
01568 610399
Please call ahead to check availability before you attend.
Call us on 01432 483693 or 0800 772 0478 — our team can help you choose and check what’s suitable for you.
