Morning-after pill to be made available for free in pharmacies

The morning-after pill will be available without charge on the NHS at pharmacies in England, the government has announced, in an effort to reduce the "postcode lottery" of free access to emergency contraception.

- Nicola Davis

It is one of two forms of emergency contraception that women can use after unprotected sex, or where other forms of contraception have failed.

The copper coil, or intrauterine device, can be accessed for nothing and is more effective, but must be fitted by a trained medical professional within five days.

The morning-after pill can be taken at home but must be used within three to five days. The NHS warns it might not be suitable for women who take steroid medicines for asthma or are overweight. It works by preventing or delaying the release of an egg, and does not cause an abortion.