Over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill almost doubled over the past year as women switched to paying for emergency supplies instead of relying on a prescription from their GP.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics yesterday showed easier availability of the pill did not increase its use. About 7% of women aged between 16 and 49 obtained it at least once in 2004-5, unchanged on the year before.

But the proportion of supplies provided by local chemists or pharmacies went up from 27% to 50%. This may have been due to the convenience of using high street outlets, or a preference for not discussing the need for emergency contraception with the GP or practice nurse.

The proportion supplied through family planning clinics remained stable at 21%, but use of NHS walk-in centres or minor injuries clinics for this purpose fell from 11% to 3%.

Emergency contraception became available without prescription in 2001. The Department of Health yesterday defended the service as an essential step to helping reduce unintended pregnancies.

Other ONS figures showed more women and men were using the male condom as a contraceptive and barrier against sexually transmitted infection. It was used by 22% of women last year, compared with 19% in 2002 and 13% in 1986. The pill remained the most popular contraceptive, used by 25% of women under 50.