Emergency Contraception Over Christmas

21.12.04

CHRISTMAS and the New Year mean more food, more drink, more parties - and more unprotected sex than at any other time during the year.

"Every February and March we carry out more abortions than at any other time," said Deborah Harvey, Assistant Director of Sexual Health at Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust.

"Our advice is to always use condoms to help protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections as well as pregnancy."

"But, if you do have unprotected sex there will be places open over the Christmas and New Year holidays where you can obtain emergency contraception (sometimes known as 'morning after pill')."

Anyone needing emergency contraception can obtain it from:
. Hospital Accident & Emergency Departments
. The GP Out of Hours service (tel: 08454 220220)
. Most Community Pharmacies.

For details of where to find the nearest community pharmacy and for opening hours, please visit www.sexhelpglos.nhs.uk or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Hope House clinic in Gloucester and St Paul's Wing in Cheltenham (both attached to the General Hospitals) will be closed 25-28 December and 1-3 January, as will all county GP practices.