Contraception is designed to protect you from pregnancy. There are many different methods of contraception, both Long-acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) or methods you use daily. It is important to find the right one for you, your sexual activity and lifestyle.
Condoms are the only form of contraception which can also protect you from STIs. Although they are not 100% guaranteed, when used properly they are extremely effective.
If you are under 25 (even if you are under 16) you can get free condoms at your local sexual health clinic – St Mary’s Health Campus.
For more options click here.
LARC is contraception that does not depend on you remembering to take or use it to be effective and this allows you to ‘fit and forget’.
These include:
To find the best type of contraception for you, click here.
The combined oral contraceptive pill, often just called “the pill”, contains artificial versions of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are produced naturally in the ovaries.
When taken correctly, the pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Other methods of contraception, such as long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), is better at preventing pregnancy.
The standard way to take the pill is to take one every day for 21 days, then have a break for seven days. During this week you will have a bleed like a period. You then start taking the pill again.
Find out more on the NHS website.
Up to 10 pharmacies in Portsmouth are currently taking part in the Pharmacy Oral Contraceptive Pilot which allows residents full access to oral contraception for free, at a pharmacy local to them.
This pilot service will make it easier for residents to manage their contraceptive pill instead of having to wait for a GP appointment. All participating pharmacies have private consultation rooms and can give the same expert advice.
Tier 1 – If you need a repeat supply of oral contraception, you can get these for free from pharmacies across Portsmouth.
Tier 2 – If you need to start or change oral contraception, 8 pharmacies across Portsmouth can initiate up to 3 months of oral contraceptives for free, at a time convenient for you.
If you would like to find a pharmacy offering this service, see the table below.
Please note – This pilot service aims to create additional capacity and is not a replacement for existing services.
If you had unprotected sex or used contraception that may have failed, then you may need emergency contraception and you should access it as soon as possible (it should be taken within 5 days of unprotected sex for it to be effective, but the sooner it’s taken the more effective it will be).
Emergency contraception is available for free from:
If you are wanting Emergency Contraception, see the table below.
Alternatively, you can visit Let’s Talk About It or call 0300 300 2016.
Please note – emergency contraception should not be used as a regular method of contraception.
| Portsmouth Pharmacy (A-Z) | Phone Number | Repeat Oral Contraception Supply (Tier 1) | Initiation of Oral Contraception (Tier 2) | Emergency Contraception |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobat Pharmacy 92 Tangier Rd, Portsmouth, PO3 6HU | 02392 663945 | √ | √ | √ |
| Boots the Chemist 194-204 Commercial Rd, Portsmouth, PO1 1HB | 02392 825245 | √ | ||
| Boots the Chemist 31-33 Palmerston Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 3QQ | 02392 821046 | √ | ||
| Boots the Chemist 48 High Street, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3AG | 02392 375118 | √ | ||
| Boots the Chemist Unit 85A and B, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, PO1 3TZ | 02392 750223 | √ | ||
| Copnor Pharmacy 336 Copnor Rd, Portsmouth, PO3 5EL | 02392 662511 | √ | ||
| Cosham Community Pharmacy Cosham Park House Surgery, Cosham Park Avenue, Portsmouth, PO6 3BG | 02392 378341 | √ | ||
| Drayton Pharmacy 264B Havant Rd, Drayton, Portsmouth, PO6 1PA | 02393 070624 | √ | ||
| Everetts Chemist 58-60 High Street, Cosham, PO6 3AG | 02392 375979 | √ | ||
| Goldchem Pharmacy 147-147A Albert Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO4 0JW | 02392 731680 | √ | ||
| Laly’s Chemist 1 Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth, PO1 2RY | 02392 297293 | √ | √ | √ |
| Laly’s Chemist 145-147 Somers Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 4PT | 02392 831911 | √ | √ | √ |
| Laly’s Chemist 162-166 Fawcett Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO4 0DW | 02392 781400 | √ | √ | √ |
| Laly’s Chemist 3-5 Kingston Rd, Portsmouth, PO1 5RX | 02392 831112 | √ | √ | √ |
| Laly’s Chemist 6 London Rd, Portsmouth, PO2 0LH | 02392 666625 | √ | √ | √ |
| Laly’s Chemist 67 Milton Rd, Copnor, Portsmouth, PO3 6AN | 02392 816993 | √ | √ | √ |
| Laly’s Chemist 8E Fratton Way, Pompey Centre, Fratton, Portsmouth, PO4 8TA | 02392 815206 | √ | √ | √ |
| Laly’s Chemist 52 High Street, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3AG | 02392 383429 | √ | ||
| Lloyds Pharmacy 122 Highlands Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO4 9NQ | 02392 830926 | √ | ||
| Lloyds Pharmacy Fitzherbert Rd, Portsmouth, PO6 1RR | 02392 377272 | √ | ||
| Rowlands Pharmacy 1 Festing Buildings, Highland Rd, Portsmouth, PO4 9BZ | 02392 731389 | √ | ||
| Rowlands Pharmacy 187-189 Eastney Rd, Southsea, Porstmouth, PO4 8EA | 02392 734999 | √ | √ | √ |
| Rowlands Pharmacy 294 London Rd, North End, Portsmouth, PO2 9JN | 02392 660534 | √ | ||
| Rowlands Pharmacy 30 Osborne Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 3LT | 02392 823118 | √ | ||
| Rowlands Pharmacy 92 Kingston Crescent, North End, Portsmouth, PO2 8AL | 02392 663017 | √ | ||
| Rowlands Pharmacy 94-98 Fratton Rd, Portsmouth, PO1 5BZ | 02392 821745 | √ | ||
| Sovereign/Drayton Prime Pharmacy 274 Havant Rd, Drayton, Portsmouth, PO6 1PA | 02392 210211 | √ |