Unprotected sex refers to any sexual activity without using contraception or a barrier method like a condom.
This includes sexual activity where a condom has slipped off or has become damaged. It can increase the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The best thing to do is act quickly. The quicker you act, the sooner you can prevent a pregnancy.
If you have had unprotected sex, there are several things to consider:
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Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception is available to prevent unplanned pregnancy.
Find out about Emergency – the morning after pill or Plan B and where to get it.
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STIs
If you have sex without a condom or the condom splits or comes off, you’re also at risk of getting an STI.
If this happens, and you’re worried you have caught an STI, you can get confidential help and advice as well as free testing for STIs from your GP or local GUM clinic.
For each STI, there is a length of time, or ‘window period’, between when someone catches an infection through sexual contact and when a test can detect that infection is in the body. This means that if a test is done within the window period it might be too soon to detect an infection, although it is in the body.
The window periods are different for different infections. For chlamydia and gonorrhoea the window period is two weeks.
If you’re not sure about window periods, you should do a test now, and another test at a later date.
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Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV
If you are concerned that you have been exposed to HIV, immediately contact your local emergency department, genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic. GPs don’t give PEP.
It must be started as soon as possible but within 72 hours (3 days) of the risk
More details about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV