Contraception

Getting the contraceptive pill is free and you can now get it from a local pharmacy without a prescription. The pharmacist will speak with you confidentially and decide which checks you might need including a BMI and blood pressure measurement for combined oral hormone contraception.  You can find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription at the NHS website.

You can also start or order repeat pill prescriptions at www.kentcht.nhs.uk/freecontraception.

You can start the contraceptive injection or order more Sayana Press injections at www.kentcht.nhs.uk/freecontraception. Sayana Press is an injection that you give to yourself to prevent pregnancies for three months.

If you received your last injection through our service, you can book your next appointment by texting 07401 302 946 or phoning 0300 790 0245 (Kent) or 0300 123 1678 (Medway)

An implant is a small rod inserted under the skin that releases hormones to prevent ovulation. Contact us to book an appointment if you would like to have an implant fitted, removed or exchanged.

Intrauterine device (IUCD/IUS) also known as a coil, is a small, T-shaped device inserted into the uterus to prevent fertilization. Intrauterine contraception (IUC) methods are long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) with licensed durations of use ranging between three and 10 years.

You can complete the IUCD pathway request form to request a coil insertion, removal or exchange. You can find instructions if you are coming for a COIL appointment on our website.

Find out about the patch at Brook. You can start or order repeat contraceptive patches at www.kentcht.nhs.uk/freecontraception.

Contraception doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so using condoms is also recommended. You can pick up some free condoms from our clinics. Anyone aged 16 to 24 can order free condoms from Get It.

There are two types of emergency contraception: The copper coil and the morning after pill. If you’ve had unprotected sex, you may be able to prevent pregnancy by taking the morning after pill within five days. The copper coil works within five days of unprotected sex to stop pregnancy from occurring.

You can get the morning after pill at your local pharmacy. Phone us to book an urgent appointment if you would like a copper coil to be fitted.

Tubal occlusion or having your ‘tubes tied’ is a permanent method of contraception that stops the fallopian tubes receiving an egg through an operation. If this is something you are considering, you may want to find out about types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) which are very effective methods and are reversible. They are the contraceptive implant, contraceptive injection, intrauterine device (IUD) and the intrauterine system (IUS).

You can get information and advice on sterilisation from your GP surgery or contraception and sexual health clinics.

Vasectomy is a permanent form of contraception where the tube that takes sperm from the testicles to the penis is tied, cut or sealed. You can get a vasectomy for free on the NHS, although waiting lists can be very long. You can get information and advice on sterilisation from your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic.