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Who needs Emergency Contraception? |
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 Emergency contraception is a way of preventing pregnancy. If you had sex without using contraception, missed your pills, or if you had a contraceptive accident (such as a broken or slipped condom), call on your doctor or family planning advisor for emergency contraception to help you prevent an unwanted pregnancy. All emergency contraceptive methods must be used within several days of unprotected sex. All emergency contraceptive methods are effective and safe for most women. If you are already pregnant, emergency contraception cannot cause abortion.
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. A copper intra-uterine device (IUCD) must be inserted within 5 days of unprotected intercourse. |
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| Emergency Contraceptive Pills |
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What are Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs)? |
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Progestogen-only emergency contraceptive pills contain synthetic hormone in high dosage. |
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How do ECPs work? |
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Depending on when the ECPs are taken during the monthly cycle, the pills will either stop the release of an ovum, prevent fertilization, or stop a fertilized ovum from implanting the uterus. Pregnancy occurs only after the implantation. Once this has happened, ECPs are no longer effective. ECPs will not induce an abortion. |
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How effective are ECPs? |
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ECPs should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. ECPs prevent most pregnancies but they are not 100% effective. The treatment fails in approximately 2% of women using ECPs correctly. If a woman used ECPs frequently, her chance of becoming pregnant would be much higher than if she used regular contraceptives.
Important: Emergency contraceptive pills can only prevent pregnancy after single unprotected intercourse and there is no further protection if you have subsequent unprotected intercourse. Use a regular contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy in the future. |
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Are ECPs safe? |
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Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) should be prescribed by a health care provider. Most women can use ECPs safely. Health care providers have safely prescribed ECPs since the mid 1970s. You should consult your health care provider before using ECPs to find out whether there is any reason you cannot use them. |
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Do ECPs cause side effects? |
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ECPs often cause temporary side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Sometimes they can cause headaches, dizziness, cramping, or breast tenderness. There side effects generally do not last more than 24 hours. |
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What should I do after using ECPs? |
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You will not see any immediate signs or effects of the ECPs. Your menstrual period should come on time (or a few days early or late). If you have any cause for concern, see your health care provider. |
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If the ECPs do not work, and I become pregnant, will the pregnancy be normal? |
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Based on available information, there is no reason to believe that the pregnancy and the baby would be abnormal.
Important: If you have unprotected sex after using ECPs, they will not protect you. Use a regular contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy in the future. |
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How do I use ECPs? |
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According to the manufacturers' advice, the two tablets should be taken separately, 12 or 24 hours apart. However, the World Health Organisation recently conducted a large scale study in ten countries among 4,000 women which showed that taking the two tablets together is as effective as taking them separately.
If you decide to take emergency contraceptive pills, you can take both tablets together in our clinic or the first dose in our clinic and bring the second dose home to take 12 or 24 hours later. |
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For Emergency Use Only |
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Emergency Contraceptives should not be used routinely to prevent pregnancy as it is less effective than the regular contraceptives (pills, injectables, IUCDs, sterilization, etc.). You should consult your health care provider who can help you choose a method that suits you best. |
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| Other Emergency Contraceptive Methods: Copper "T" Intra-uterine Device (IUCD) |
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A copper "T" IUCD can be inserted by a trained health care provider within 5 days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. This method is very effective: the treatment fails in less than one percent of women.
It may cause lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding after insertion. Your next period should come at the expected time, but the flow may be heavier and with more pain. These side effects usually subside within first three months.
Because an "emergency" IUCD can be used for many years as a regular contraceptive, it may be an option for women who want long-lasting contraceptive protection and who are suitable for the IUCD. |
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| Emergency Contraception and Sexually Transmissible Diseases |
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| ECPs and the IUD do not protect against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. If you are worried about whether you may have been infected with AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases, consult your health care provider about further tests. |
