Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, England (Contraception), 2025-26 [delayed from 15 October 2026 due to operational issues]

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.

From October 2025 oral emergency contraception can be prescribed for free at a community pharmacist. 

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.

88,192 items were provided by SRH services in 2025-26, a decrease of 4% on 2024-25. Figures between 2020-21 and 2021-22 had been impacted by Covid-related restrictions in service provision, but the number is now back above the pre-pandemic level.

In the longer term, the total is still 16% lower than 10 years ago in 2015-16 (104,510 items provided).

The number of emergency contraception items provided in the community increased from 55,960 items dispensed in 2024, to 157,041 in 2025, an increase of 181%. 

From October 2025 oral emergency contraception can be prescribed for free at a community pharmacist. This is thought to be the reason for the large increase between 2024 and 2025.

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

4 per 1,000 of the female population were provided emergency contraception by an SRH service in 2025-26.

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

Those aged 20 to 24 were the most likely, with 9 per 1,000 population having done so at least once during the year.

There were 1,192 females aged 13 to 15 provided with emergency contraception by an SRH service at least once during the year, representing 1 per 1,000 population.

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For more information: Data tables 1, 9a, 9b, 9c, and 13

Emergency contraception items provided to under 16s, by year

Compared to ten years ago, the number of emergency contraception items provided to under 16s by SRH services has fallen both in real terms and as a percentage of those provided to females of all ages.

1,408 items were provided to under 16s by SRH services in 2025-26, representing 2% of total emergency contraception. This was a decrease compared to 1,570 items in 2024-25, and well below the 6,826 items provided in 2015-16, when it represented 7% of the total items that year. 

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For more information: Data tables 9a, 11, 18a and 18b