Forgot Your Contraceptive Pill While Travelling in London? What to Do Today
If you have forgotten or run out of your contraceptive pill while in London, what you need to do depends on which pill you take, how many pills have been missed and whether you have had sex. For the combined pill, guidance from the UK's Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare says that if it has been less than 72 hours since your last pill, take the missed pill now, carry on as normal and no extra protection is needed, provided you took your pills correctly in the previous 7 days. If it has been 72 hours or more, take the most recent missed pill, use condoms or avoid sex for the next 7 days, and consider emergency contraception if this happened in the first week of a pack and you had unprotected sex. For progestogen-only pills the window is shorter, 3 hours for traditional pills, 12 hours for desogestrel and 24 hours for drospirenone. Emergency contraception pills work best the sooner they are taken, and the copper coil is the most effective option, up to 5 days after unprotected sex. Since October 2025, the morning-after pill has been available free from most pharmacies in England. A pharmacy cannot dispense your regular pill on a prescription from outside the UK, so a UK doctor can review your pill and prescribe it the same day. At The Wellness appointments are available 7 days a week, by video from £150 or in person from £220. Fees appear further down this page.
Reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last updated 3 October 2026.
Get your pill prescribed today on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
Key facts if you have missed or run out of your pill
Check which type of pill you take, combined or progestogen-only, because the rules are different.
For the combined pill, less than 72 hours since your last pill usually needs no extra protection.
For progestogen-only pills, the window is 3, 12 or 24 hours depending on the pill.
Emergency contraception pills should be taken as soon as possible, and the copper coil is the most effective option.
A UK doctor can prescribe your regular pill the same day, with the right checks.
What should I do if I missed a combined pill
The combined pill contains oestrogen and a progestogen. The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare guidance counts the time since you took your last pill.
Less than 72 hours since your last pill. Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if that means 2 pills in one day, and carry on as normal. No extra protection is needed if you took your pills correctly earlier in the pack and in the 7 days before.
72 hours or more since your last pill. Take the most recent missed pill straight away and carry on with the rest. Use condoms or avoid sex until you have taken 7 pills in a row correctly. If the missed pills were in the first week of the pack and you had unprotected sex in the pill-free week or the first week, consider emergency contraception. If 2 or more pills were missed in the 7 days before a planned pill-free break, skip the break and start the next pack.
Ask a doctor about a missed pill on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
What should I do if I missed a progestogen-only pill
Progestogen-only pills have a shorter window, and it depends on the type.
Traditional progestogen-only pills, such as those containing norethisterone or levonorgestrel, are missed if more than 3 hours late. Desogestrel pills are missed if more than 12 hours late. Drospirenone pills are missed if more than 24 hours late.
If your pill is late beyond its window, take it as soon as you remember and carry on. Use condoms or avoid sex for the next 48 hours, or 7 days for drospirenone. Consider emergency contraception if you had unprotected sex since the missed pill or within the protection gap.
When do you need emergency contraception
There are 3 options, and the right one depends on timing and your situation.
The copper coil is the most effective emergency contraception. It can be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex, or up to 5 days after the earliest likely date of ovulation, and it then provides ongoing contraception.
Ulipristal acetate is an emergency pill that can be taken up to 120 hours, or 5 days, after unprotected sex. If you take hormonal contraception, guidance advises waiting 5 days before restarting your pill, using condoms meanwhile.
Levonorgestrel is an emergency pill licensed for up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. You can restart your regular pill straight away, using condoms until it is effective again.
Body weight can affect how well emergency pills work, and a pharmacist or doctor may recommend a different dose or option. Since 29 October 2025, emergency contraception pills have been available free from most community pharmacies in England, without an appointment.
Can a UK doctor prescribe my contraceptive pill
Yes. A doctor reviews your pill, your medical history and anything that affects safety, using the UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for contraceptive use. For the combined pill this includes your blood pressure, migraine history, smoking and any history of blood clots, so an in-person appointment or a recent blood pressure reading helps.
Bring your pill packet or a photo of it. Brand names differ between countries, and the doctor matches the hormones and doses so your protection continues without a gap.
A pharmacy cannot dispense a prescription written outside the UK, unless it comes from the EEA or Switzerland, at the pharmacist's discretion. A UK private prescription can usually be issued in the appointment.
When should you see a doctor urgently
Seek urgent help for sudden chest pain, breathlessness, a painful swollen calf, a severe headache unlike your usual headaches, or sudden changes in vision while taking the combined pill, which can be signs of a blood clot or stroke. Call 999 for severe symptoms.
Take a pregnancy test if your period does not come, or is unusually light, after missed pills or emergency contraception.
What does it cost to see a doctor about contraception in London
Harley Street GP consultations sit at £250 to £350, and visiting doctor services commonly charge £195 to £350 in the daytime and more at night.
At The Wellness each appointment is a single fee, with the prescription included. The pill itself is paid for at the pharmacy. All prices shown are starting prices.
Hormonal or copper coil fitting, including assessment, the device and follow-up, from £595.
Hotel, apartment or residence visit, evenings and weekends from £695 and daytime from £495.
Extended 45-minute consultation covering contraception and other concerns together, from £395.
In-person consultation, 30 minutes with examination and blood pressure check, from £220.
Same-day video consultation, from £150.
Appointments are available the same day, 7 days a week, at our London clinics, including Marylebone and Belgravia, by video, or at your hotel. You need no NHS registration, referral or UK address.
Why women travelling to London choose The Wellness
Because you can be seen today, by video or in person, usually within hours.
Because the doctor matches your pill exactly, checking the hormones and doses rather than the brand name.
Because the safety checks are done properly, including blood pressure for the combined pill.
Because emergency options are explained clearly, including the copper coil.
And because everything is confidential, with nothing shared without your consent.
Related reading
Coil fitting and contraception covers longer-acting options, STI testing in London covers sexual health checks, forgotten or lost medication in London covers other medicines, and can you fill a US prescription in London covers American visitors.
Book a same-day appointment on WhatsApp or call 020 3951 3429.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss one combined pill
If it has been less than 72 hours since your last pill, take the missed pill as soon as you remember and carry on as normal. No extra protection is needed if you took your pills correctly in the previous 7 days.
What if I missed 2 or more combined pills
Take the most recent missed pill, carry on with the rest and use condoms or avoid sex for 7 days. Consider emergency contraception if the missed pills were in the first week of the pack and you had unprotected sex.
How late can I take a progestogen-only pill
3 hours for traditional progestogen-only pills, 12 hours for desogestrel and 24 hours for drospirenone. Beyond that, take it as soon as you remember and use condoms for 48 hours, or 7 days for drospirenone.
Is the morning-after pill free in England
Since 29 October 2025, emergency contraception pills have been available free from most community pharmacies in England without an appointment.
Can I get my contraceptive pill prescribed in London as a visitor
Yes. A UK doctor can review your pill and medical history, check your blood pressure for the combined pill, and issue a UK private prescription in the appointment.
How much does it cost to see a doctor for contraception in London
At The Wellness a same-day video consultation is from £150 and a 30-minute in-person consultation with blood pressure check from £220, with the prescription included.
The Wellness is a doctor-led private healthcare group providing medical care from our London clinics, including Marylebone and Belgravia. All doctors are GMC-registered. Prescriptions are issued only following a consultation and clinical assessment. In an emergency call 999. This article is general information and not a substitute for medical advice about your own health.
Enquire now on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
References
Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, progestogen-only pills guideline, 2022, amended
Patient.info, missed contraceptive pills, professional reference
NHS England, free morning-after pill at high street pharmacies, October 2025
GOV.UK, prescriptions issued in the EEA and Switzerland, guidance for pharmacists
