Don’t star in your own ‘period drama’ this Christmas warn experts
Drunken partying, hectic diaries and visiting family are all responsible for an increase in missed pills and use of emergency contraception over the festive season.
Downton Abbey may be back on our TV screens at Christmas but it’s not the only period drama some of us will be experiencing over the next few weeks according to LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, whose data shows a 32 per cent increase in use of their online contraception services in the run up to Christmas.
In addition, new research commissioned by the service among 2,000 women has revealed that over the festive season, 51 per cent of women admit to suffering a ‘period drama’ – missing contraceptive pills, having to use the emergency pill or having an unplanned pregnancy.
Experts are warning that the increase in contraceptive mishaps combined with a more hectic schedule over the festive season could be a recipe for disaster. Even without the added stresses of Christmas, one in six women say they have missed a few days of their pill whilst they struggled to find the time to get a repeat prescription and one in three often find it hard to get time to see a doctor or nurse to get the repeat prescription.
Dr Tom Brett, Medical Director for LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor commented, “We often see peaks in our contraceptive services after the weekend but during November and December as the party season gets underway, there is a clear and significant uplift in orders. The combination of an increased need for contraceptive services with reduced hours at local GP surgeries over the festive holiday period can leave some women wondering where to go as many might not be aware that it is possible to seek this sort of help online.”
Just 5 per cent of those surveyed have used an online service in the past, however 45 per cent said they would be interested in using an online doctor service that can prescribe and deliver their pill (or emergency contraception if required) to their door for a small cost.
When it comes to Christmas specific dramas, one in six women say they missed taking a pill because they had been drunk, whilst one in seven say that in the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas they have missed two or more contraceptive pills, which could put them at risk of an unplanned pregnancy. 28 per cent missed a pill due to forgetting to pack it and stayed away from home.
Use of the emergency pill also peaks around Christmas party season. 13 per cent of women admit to having had to use the ‘morning after pill’ over Christmas with one in 14 saying they had to take it after their annual office party.
To demonstrate the issue and help raise awareness of the help available over the festive season, LloydsPharmacy has produced a spoof Period Drama – view here youtu.be/rXE5Fc95Hog.
LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor allows women to order a repeat pill prescription online and collect it the same day from 1,600 LloydsPharmacy stores or have it delivered to their home or office by Royal Mail special delivery. Check your local pharmacy for opening times. Visit LloydsPharmacy.com/perioddrama.
