Almost two-thirds (64%) of women say they shoulder the cost for emergency contraception, a survey by Well Pharmacy Online Doctor has revealed.

Despite this, 65% of the 1,000 UK adults surveyed said they thought the cost of emergency contraception should be split between partners.

The polling comes ahead of the introduction of a national emergency hormonal (EHC) contraception service set to be introduced in October, which will make EHC free of charge across England.

Preventing pregnancy major factor in contraception use

Some 500 women and 500 men were surveyed in April 2025 via a service called OnePulse.

Among all those surveyed, around half (54%) said they practised safe sex in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy, while 22% said they did so in order to prevent contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

But one third of women (33%) claimed not to use contraception, while 28% said they had felt pressured to have sex without contraception – rising to as many as 39% of 25-34 year olds.

Just half (51%) of the women surveyed by Well Pharmacy Online Doctor said their partner was 'actively involved' in decisions about contraception, while 16% said they had taken the morning-after pill without their partner knowing.

Around a quarter (28%) of those chose to do so for reasons around privacy and autonomy, while around one fifth (19%) said they were afraid of conflict or judgement.

Men say they would take emergency hormonal contraception if available

According to the survey, four in five men (79%) said they would be willing to take emergency contraception if it existed for men.

But 35% of men said they would not take a daily contraceptive pill if it were available to men, citing fears of looking 'weak' or concerns over safety, Well Pharmacy Online Doctor said.

National emergency hormonal contraception service in England starts in October

Under the latest community pharmacy contractual framework (CPCF), a new national emergency hormonal contraception service will be introduced in England from October.

This builds on the supply of oral contraception from community pharmacies that was introduced in 2023.

Making the morning-after pill free across England was welcomed as a move that would reduce health inequalities and remove the 'postcode lottery' of locally commissioned services.

By June 2025, provision of the NHS England pharmacy contraception will be 'bundled' with Pharmacy First and the pharmacy blood pressure check service, meaning that pharmacies will need to be registered to provide all three to be eligible for the monthly Pharmacy First 'maintenance' payments.