This month, sales of the morning-after-pill will soar by nearly 80% as the Christmas party season gets in full swing with sales traditionally peaking today.
Sex on Female First
In response to this, DrThom – a leading online doctor and prescription service – promises to deliver the emergency contraceptive pill, and a STI testing kit, direct to revelers at home or in the office.
The aptly named ‘Festive Aid Kit’ is the first of its kind and contains the morning-after-pill, STI test and condoms along with a hot chocolate, chapstick and paracetamol to provide a post-office party ‘pick-me up’ and cure inevitable hangovers.
The kit (RRP £60) is available from DrThom.com/festiveaidkit from now until to Friday 21st December 2012 and is distributed after the patient fills in an online medical questionnaire.
Dr Tom Brett, medical director at DrThom, explains: “At this time of year pharmacists and doctors are inundated with morning-after-pill consultations as a result of people drinking too much and relaxing their attitude towards contraception.
“We always advise planning contraception before a night out and using a barrier method such as condoms to protect against STIs. But we also understand accidents happen and it is often difficult to get an appointment with a doctor or visit a pharmacist over the busy festive period.
“What’s more, very few customers who order emergency contraception also arrange an STI test so we’re providing these at a significantly reduced charge to encourage people to get themselves tested.”
This year sales of the morning-after-pill are expected to reach nearly 2,000 over the festive period.
Emergency contraception can be taken within three days of unprotected sex, although the sooner it is taken the more effective it is.
More morning-after pills are sought by people in the South East than in any other region in the UK, according to new data released by the online doctor DrThom.
When it comes to sales of emergency contraception, women in the South East have the highest track record, accounting for almost 20 per cent of total sales of the morning-after-pill since 2001. This is compared to 14 per cent in the North West, 13.4 per cent in London and 11.5 per cent in the East Midlands, as highlighted in the table below.
More information on DrThom’s Festive Aid Kit and how to purchase the emergency contraceptive can be found at www.DrThom.com
An express courier service is being trialed in London (inside zone 1) and guarantees the kit is delivered within two hours between 9am and 5pm on weekdays. Elsewhere in the UK the emergency contraceptive can be ordered online and picked up discreetly from the local pharmacy.