Having unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy and other health issues, like STI’s.

Sometimes, people forget to use a condom, or despite trying to use one, it can break or come off during sex. If this happens, taking the morning-after pill, or emergency hormonal contraception (EHC), is a good option to prevent pregnancy. One common misconception is that it has to be taken the next morning, but it’s actually best to take it as soon as possible after unprotected sex.

The sooner you take it, the more effective it will be. For the best chance of the morning after pill preventing a pregnancy it needs to be taken within 72 hours. After this point it may not be the most effective and you may need other emergency contraception such as the IUD.

If a condom fails during sex it may also be advisable to get an STI test.