Emergency Contraception Information

Emergency contraception pills (ECPs) are a kind of birth control pill that is used to stop you from getting pregnant after you have sex. ECPs should be taken within 72 hours after you have sex or sooner. To find out more about ECPs, where to get them, and how much they cost, check out this Health File.

Did you know that as of December 2000 you can get ECPs through your pharmacist without a doctor's prescription?

To provide ECPs without a doctor's prescription, pharmacists must receive special training. Not all pharmacies have a trained pharmacist on duty so it is best to call your local pharmacy before you go in. If cost is a concern, you may wish to ask the pharmacist how much the ECPs will cost when you phone in. When you go into the pharmacy to pick up your ECPs, your pharmacist will counsel you on how to use the pill. They may also tell you about other places you can get birth control information.

As well as the low cost options listed in the Health File, you might be interested to know that the Ministry of Health (Pharmacare program) has given pharmacies the option of entering into an agreement whereby the Ministry pays the pharmacists' counselling fee. If you go to one of these pharmacies you are only responsible for the drug and dispensing cost according to your Pharmacare eligibility.

To see a list of the pharmacies that have entered into this agreement with Pharmacare, click on this link (PDF 43KB). Pharmacies that have not entered into this agreement independently set their own counselling fees.

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Last Revised: July 21, 2005