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uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
a partner interferes with or controls your contraception, medication, or pregnancy choices

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

At the earliest safe pause, use a phone or device your partner is unlikely to monitor to contact a healthcare professional and a specialist domestic abuse service. Call 999 if you are in immediate danger or need emergency medical help.

Do not do these things

  • Do not confront your partner about suspected interference if that could increase the danger.
  • Do not take extra medication to replace missing or uncertain doses unless a pharmacist, prescriber, or other qualified healthcare professional advises it.
  • Do not use medication that you cannot identify or that appears to have been altered without obtaining urgent professional advice.
  • Do not rely on contraception that may have been removed, damaged, or tampered with until you have spoken to a pharmacist or sexual health professional.
  • Do not feel you must make or disclose a pregnancy decision while your partner is present or pressuring you.
  • Do not suddenly change passwords, remove shared access, or clear browsing history if that could alert your partner and make you less safe.

What to do now

  1. Move to the safest available place or private moment. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or move to a safer occupied place if you can do so safely. Go to an emergency department if you also need urgent medical care.

  2. Use a safer phone or device to contact a specialist domestic abuse service. You can ask about immediate safety without deciding whether to leave the relationship or report your partner.

  3. If medication is missing, damaged, replaced, or the dose is unclear, do not guess what to take. Contact your pharmacist, prescriber, GP, or local urgent medical service and explain what you normally take, what may have happened, and when you last took a confirmed dose.

  4. If contraception may have been interfered with, contact a pharmacy or sexual health service as soon as you safely can. Ask about emergency contraception because it is time-sensitive, and ask whether pregnancy testing or STI care may be appropriate.

  5. If you are pregnant or may be pregnant, request a private conversation with a GP, midwife, sexual health professional, or pregnancy care provider. Say that someone is pressuring or controlling your choices and that you need to speak without them present.

  6. Ask each healthcare service to record a contact method that is safer for you. Check whether appointment messages, letters, prescriptions, test results, or app notifications could reveal your care to your partner.

  7. Tell one trusted person what is happening if it is safe. Agree on a simple way to check in and somewhere you could go if the control, interference, or threats increase.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether to leave, confront your partner, report anything, explain the situation to other people, or make long-term relationship decisions. Medical advice about uncertain medication, possible contraceptive failure, or pregnancy care may be time-sensitive, but other decisions can wait until you have privacy and support.

Important reassurance

Interfering with contraception or medication, or pressuring pregnancy choices, can be part of domestic abuse and reproductive coercion. It is not your fault. Healthcare and specialist support services can help you consider immediate options without taking the decision away from you.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety, access to healthcare, and specialist support only. Later decisions about treatment, contraception, pregnancy, housing, reporting, or the relationship may require medical, domestic abuse, safeguarding, or legal support.

Important note

This is general information, not medical, legal, or other professional advice. Medication, contraception, and pregnancy care depend on individual circumstances, so seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Call 999 in an emergency.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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