How to use emergency contraception

The term 'Emergency Contraception' (EC) is associated with adopting a contraceptive method following unprotected, failed or forced sexual intercourse in which the risk of pregnancy cannot be ruled out. Another term associated with the same is 'morning after pill' and provides an important aspect of its use, which is 'as soon as possible!'.

In preventing a possible pregnancy there are few methods that can be adopted.

1. Use of recommended higher doses of normal birth control pills:

2. Using specially prepared EC pills

3. Insertion of an Intra Uterine Device

The effectiveness of the EC pills and other methods of EC range from 75-95% and in order to obtain its effectiveness the administering should happen within 72 hours of having a sexual intercourse. There are two types of pills, the progestin only pill and the combined pill which contain both progestin and estrogen. It has been found that progestin only pills have less side effects than the combined pill. Thus, most of the brands currently available in the market contain only progestin.

Most of the preparations of EC pills are more than the usual doses of regular contraceptive pills. Therefore in most preparations there are two pills or more to be taken usually 12 hours apart. Following the package instructions would be vital in getting the right dose in. Usually one tablet of Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg should be taken for EC or 2 tablets of its 0.75mg counterpart, which directs you to take it 12 hours apart.

Apart from use of EC pills, another method available would be the use of a copper Intra Uterine Contraceptive device (IUCD) which is said to be 99% effective in preventing conception from occurring. These tiny devices are entered in to the uterus through the vagina and can be kept their for even 10 years. But, if the woman is susceptible for pelvic inflammatory disease and sexually transmitted disease, the pills would be a much advisable option as it can lead to reduce fertility through infection. The IUCD therefore is used only in health women who are not susceptible to such infections. The insertion of a IUCD should be done by a trained medical practitioner and preferably within 5 days of the said sexual intercourse.

All these EC methods have proved to be effective and safe. The World Health Organisation has recommended use of these methods in preventing unwanted pregnancies from happening. The use of such methods had prevented the mishaps from happening and had given a second chance to many women.