The morning after pill, known as Emergency contraception (EC) (also known as Emergency Birth Control (EBC) or postcoital contraception) refers to measures that, if taken after sex, may prevent pregnancy.
The leading sexual health care charity British Pregnancy Advisory Service BPAS believes that stocking up the pills at home will stop more women from getting pregnant after unprotected sex.
The charity has openly supported the idea of selling the pills to schoolgirls under the age of consent thus sparking outrage with critics who believe it would encourage women to use the powerful drug as contraception without thinking about the consequences.
However, studies have showed that storing advance supplies of the pill do not reduce the abortion rate.
According to the Daily Mail, Ann Furedi, chief executive of BPAS, which launches the Just In Case campaign today, said "Sometimes contraception fails, and sometimes we fail to use it effectively. In the real world, accidents happen. Emergency contraceptive pills give us a second chance to avoid a problem pregnancy."
"It makes sense to keep it in the bathroom cabinet, along with your plasters and paracetamol. You don't wait until you have a headache before buying aspirin, and it makes no sense to wait until you have unprotected sex before you get emergency contraception," she added.
This emergency pill is most effective in the first 12 hours after unprotected intercourse. Although it can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after sex, it is up to 50 per cent more effective if taken within 12 hours.
