Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, England (Contraception) 2019/20

Figures in this part do not represent the full volume of emergency contraceptives provided in England.

Most of the analysis relates to emergency contraception provided at SRH services only. Counts from community prescribing data (items dispensed primarily by pharmacists and GPs - see part 5 for full inclusions) are also shown in the first section - this data is sourced from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system, supplied by NHS Prescription Services.

Since 2001, the reclassification of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) meant that it could also be purchased over the counter at a pharmacy without a prescription (by females aged 16 and over). In addition, nurses and pharmacists can supply EHC to females of all ages under a Patient Group Direction (PGD). PGDs are documents which make it legal for medicines to be provided to groups of patients without individual prescriptions having to be written for each patient. Data on supply by PGD are not collected centrally.

Emergency contraception provided by SRH services, or dispensed in the community, by year

Community prescribing data is reported by calendar year, so is presented separately from SRH services data.

Over the last ten years, there has been a fall in the number of emergency contraception items provided by both SRH services and at other locations in the community.

At SRH services, the number of emergency contraception items provided in 2019/20 was 78 thousand. This is 14% less than in 2018/19 (91 thousand), and a fall of 45%, from 144 thousand, in 2009/10.

The number of emergency contraception prescriptions dispensed in the community fell to 110 thousand in 2019, a fall of 15% compared to 2018. In the last ten years, this has fallen by 56%, from 253 thousand in 2009.

Likelihood of being provided emergency contraception by SRH services, by age

5 per 1,000 of the female population were provided emergency contraception by an SRH service in 2019/20.

The likelihood of a female using an SRH service to obtain emergency contraception varies with age.

Those aged 18 to 19 were the most likely, with 18 per 1,000 population having done so at least once during the year.

There were 3,701 females aged 13 to 15 provided with emergency contraception by an SRH service at least once during the year, representing 4 per 1,000 population.

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For more information: Tables 1, 9 and 13, Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (Contraception), England, 2019/20

Emergency contraception items provided to under 16s, by year

The number of emergency contraception items provided to under 16s by SRH services over the last ten years has fallen both in real terms and as a percentage of those provided to females of all ages, though the latter of these measures has been similar over the last few years.

4,262 items were provided to under 16s by SRH services in 2019/20, representing 5% of total emergency contraception. This compares to 16,260 items in 2009/10 (a decrease of 74%), which represented 11% of the total. 

Likelihood by deprivation level

Data is based on the Lower Super Output Area of residence mapped to Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles. For more information see part B of the Appendices.  

The likelihood of females aged 13 to15 using SRH services for emergency contraception increases with the deprivation level in their area of residence.

This varied from 6 per 1,000 population in the most deprived areas to 2 per 1,000 population in the least deprived areas.

Likelihood by Local Authority

The likelihood of a person using SRH services for emergency contraception will be influenced by the availability of such services in their area of residence.

The likelihood of females aged 13 to 15 using SRH services for emergency contraception, was highest in St. Helens (33 per 1,000 population), Blackpool (32), and Wirral (27).

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For more information: Tables 11 and 18, Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (Contraception), England, 2019/20