It is now known that women who
have not been using any
contraceptive method can still
prevent pregnancy if they take
certain contraceptives within 72
hours after sex.
The World Health Organisation
(WHO), recommends two methods
of such emergency contraception:
the emergency contraception pills
(ECPs) and copper-bearing
intrauterine device (IUDs).
According to the experts,
contraceptive pills containing sex
hormones such as estrogens and
progestogens , when used as
directed after unprotected
intercourse, are safe and 75 per
cent effective in preventing
pregnancy.
The dosage, according to the
experts will however be higher
than when such pills are used as
regular, contraceptive method.
WHO recommends levonorgestrel
for emergency contraceptive pill
use. Ideally, this progestogen-
only method should be taken as a
single dose (1.5 mg) within five
days (120 hours) of unprotected
intercourse. Alternatively, a
woman can take the
levonorgestrel in two doses (0.75
mg each; 12 hours apart).
Experts say Levonorgestrel
emergency contraceptive pills
prevent pregnancy by preventing
or delaying ovulation. They may
also work to prevent fertilization
of an egg by affecting the cervical
mucus or the ability of the sperm
to bind to the egg. They are
however not effective once the
process of implantation has
begun, and they will not cause
abortion.
The method is reported to have
gained worldwide acceptance
especially in the developed
countries. For instance the US
Food and Drum Administration
(FDA), as far back as 1996,
concluded “that certain oral
contraceptives approved for daily
use are also safe and effective as
emergency contraceptive pills.”
Since then, many countries
approved the methods and these
are now in the markets, clearly
labeled as “emergency
contraceptive pills” and distinct
from the regular monthly cycles
of oral contraceptives.
Based on reports from nine
studies including 10 500 women,
the WHO-recommended
levonorgestrel regimen is 52–94
percent effective in preventing
pregnancy. The regimen is more
effective the sooner after
intercourse it is taken.
The organisation also confirms
that Levonorgestrel- alone
emergency contraception pills are
very safe and do not cause
abortion or harm future fertility.
Side-effects are uncommon and
generally mild.
“Emergency contraceptive pills
prevent pregnancy. They should
not be given to a woman who
already has a confirmed
pregnancy. However, if a woman
inadvertently takes the pills after
she becomes pregnant, the
available evidence suggests that
the pills will not harm either the
mother or her foetus.
“Emergency contraceptive pills
are for emergency use only and
are not appropriate for regular
use as an ongoing contraceptive
method because of the higher
possibility of failure compared
with non-emergency
contraceptives. In addition,
frequent use of emergency
contraception can result in
sideeffects such as menstrual
irregularities, although their
repeated use poses no known
health risks, “ WHO further says.
According to WHO, a copper-
bearing IUD, could also be used
as an emergency contraceptive
and could be ideal for a woman
who is hoping for an ongoing,
highly effective contraceptive
method. The IUD has to be
inserted within five days of
unprotected intercourse to be
effective.
As emergency contraception,
experts say the copper-bearing
IUD primarily prevents
fertilization by causing a chemical
change that damages sperm and
egg before they can meet.
When inserted within five days of
unprotected intercourse, a
copper-bearing IUD is over 99
percent effective in preventing
pregnancy. This is the most
effective form of emergency
contraception available. Once
inserted, the woman can continue
to use the IUD as an ongoing
method of contraception, and she
may choose to change to another
contraceptive method in the
future.
“The only situation in which a
copper-bearing IUD should never
be used as emergency
contraception is if a woman is
already pregnant,” WHO says.
Experts say emergency
contraception will be particularly
useful in preventing unwanted
pregnancy among rape victims or
those who forgot to use their
contracep0tives and many other s
who would have resorted to
unsafe abortion.
They also describe this form of
contraception as a back-up
method particularly for the
barrier method.
The concept of post-coital
contraception is however not
entirely new to scientists. Indeed,
scientists, as far back as 98 AD
had sought to device a variety of
methods to remove or destroy
sperm to prevent it from
fertilizing the woman’s egg.
In the ancient times, as soon as it
became known that semen was in
some way responsible for
pregnancy, women attempted to
prevent pregnancy by removing
semen from the vagina or by
trying to destroy sperm with an
agent placed in the vagina after
intercourse.
Modern research however did not
yield much fruits until the early
60s when it was discovered that a
broad range of chemical agents
have infertility effect when
administered postcoitally.
Contraceptive pills containing
estrogens and progestogens have
indeed been in use for decades
usually referred to as “the
morning after pills.”

Source - www.nationalmirroronline.net/new/emergency-contraception-to-the-rescue/

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