A pharmacist has said anything that gives women more options around contraception should be welcomed.
A proposal from a group of healthcare bodies in the UK has suggested the morning-after pill should be available generally in supermarkets and petrol stations.
The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare said a reclassification of oral emergency contraception would enable it to be purchased from general retail outlets "removing barriers and improving access for all".
Emergency contraception is currently only available after a consultation with a pharmacist.
GP Dr Máire Finn told Lunchtime Live she would welcome any easing of access.
"I feel anything that reduces the barriers and gives women more options, more accessibility, more freedom is a good thing," she said.
"It is emergency contraception and it should not be used as a regular form of contraception.
"The worry is you might have somebody who uses it too frequently and then obviously isn't using barrier protection, which is the only protection against STIs.
"But I feel that the issue is around education in sexual health for women, and men, but particularly for women as opposed to having another barrier."
Birth control pills in calendar dispensing packaging, 4-6-02. Image: Richard B LevineDr Finn said while pharmacy access is "fabulous", barriers for emergency contraception should be taken away.
"Pregnancy is far more dangerous from the point of view of emotional and physical health than any emergency contraception would be," she said.
Pharmacist Sheena Mitchell told the show while she agrees on ease of access, there should be some constraints.
"I see that [pharmacy] consultation as a really critical part of that education of women," she said.
"When patients come into us in the community pharmacy, not only are we making sure that they're [on] the most appropriate form of contraception, because you have to remember there's two different types of pills.
"[The pills] are suitable for different people for different reasons, depending on what medication they're on, whether they're breastfeeding or not, and also how long it's been since they had unprotected sex.
"Also there is the option of using the copper coil as a form of contraception.
"For some people who don't want hormonal treatments, and just want to be aware of their options, we found that to be really useful to inform them about that."
'Even more fertile'
Ms Mitchell said there are some issues patients should understand.
"This form of contraception is not long-term, it's just for emergencies," she said.
"While there's no major issue with using it every now and again, there are things that patients need to understand.
"For example, if you take the five-day effective morning-after pill then that basically will reduce the effectiveness of any other hormonal contraception that you're on for a week or two after that.
"It actually can make you even more fertile, so we have to explain to patients to use barrier methods - like condoms - even more diligently in that time.
"There's just a lot that we can improve patient care by talking it through," she added.
Emergency contraception should be used as and when it is needed; however it should not replace ongoing contraception methods.
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