Most women do not suffer many side effects, but if vomiting occurs within three hours of taking oral emergency contraception, then another supply is needed.

The timing of the next period can be altered: if it is more than seven days late then follow-up is required.

Other considerations

• Attitudes 

An advisory, non-judgmental approach, the ability to understand the differing needs of women and the sensitivity to accept and work with values other than their own are fundamental to the roles of the pharmacist and pharmacy staff.

Some pharmacy professionals might not want to provide EC due to their own values and beliefs. In June 2017, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) issued ‘In Practice: Guidance on religion, personal values and beliefs’. The document states that pharmacy professionals “have the right to practise in line with their religion, personal values or beliefs as long as they act in accordance with equalities and human rights law and make sure that person-centred care is not compromised”.

• Age of consent

The legal age of consent for sex in England, Scotland and Wales is 16 years old. Although not legal, children between the ages of 13 and 15 are considered able to consent to sexual intercourse, if Fraser guidelines criteria is met. See the online version of this module for more information on these guidelines.

In England, children under the age of 13 years are legally considered unable to consent to sexual activity – this is considered non-consensual and must be reported to the safeguarding lead.

• Confidentiality

Even if a patient is under 16 years of age, they have the same right to confidentiality as adults. This means that no information should be passed on unless it is thought that the individual is in serious danger. Even then, the issue should be discussed with the patient first.

• Competency

“Whether or not a child is capable of giving the necessary consent will depend on the child’s maturity and understanding and the nature of the consent required. The child must be capable of making a reasonable assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment proposed, so the consent, if given, can be properly and fairly described as true consent” – Mr Justice Woolf at the High Court, 1985.