Effectiveness of emergency contraceptive pills between 72 and 120 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse

2001 ◽  
Vol 184 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Rodrigues ◽  
Fabienne Grou ◽  
Jacques Joly
Author(s):  
Bernhard Langer ◽  
Sophia Grimm ◽  
Gwenda Lungfiel ◽  
Franca Mandlmeier ◽  
Vanessa Wenig

Background: In Germany, there are two different active substances, levonorgestrel (LNG) and ulipristal acetate (UPA), available as emergency contraception (the “morning after pill”) with UPA still effective even 72 to 120 h after unprotected sexual intercourse, unlike LNG. Emergency contraceptive pills have been available without a medical prescription since March 2015 but are still only dispensed by community pharmacies. The aim of this study was to determine the counselling and dispensing behaviour of pharmacy staff and the factors that may influence this behaviour in a scenario that intends that only the emergency contraceptive pill containing the active substance UPA is dispensed (appropriate outcome). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the form of a covert simulated patient study in a random sample of community pharmacies stratified by location in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and reported in accordance with the STROBE statement. Each pharmacy was visited once at random by one of four trained test buyers. They simulated a product-based request for an emergency contraceptive pill, stating contraceptive failure 3.5 days prior as the reason. The test scenario and the evaluation forms are based on the recommended actions, including the checklist from the Federal Chamber of Pharmacies. Results: All 199 planned pharmacy visits were carried out. The appropriate outcome (dispensing of UPA) was achieved in 78.9% of the test purchases (157/199). A significant correlation was identified between the use of the counselling room and the use of a checklist (p < 0.001). The use of a checklist led to a significantly higher questioning score (p < 0.001). In a multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, a higher questioning score (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.22–1.63; p < 0.001) and a time between 12:01 and 4:00 p.m. (AOR = 2.54; 95% CI = 1.13–5.73; p = 0.024) compared to 8:00 to 12:00 a.m. were significantly associated with achieving the appropriate outcome. Conclusions: In a little over one-fifth of all test purchases, the required dispensing of UPA did not occur. The use of a counselling room and a checklist, the use of a checklist and the questioning score as well as the questioning score and achieving the appropriate outcome are all significantly correlated. A target regulation for the use of a counselling room, an explicit guideline recommendation about the use of a checklist, an obligation for keeping UPA in stock and appropriate mandatory continuing education programmes should be considered.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 109-118
Author(s):  
Bhu Dev Jha

 Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP) is used for preventing pregnancy after having unprotected sexual intercourse, contraceptive failure or forced sex. The use of ECP within 120 hours of sexual intercourse could prevent unwanted pregnancy and its adverse effects particularly unintended childbirth and unsafe abortion. The study, therefore, aimed to assess knowledge and use of emergency contraceptives among Bachelors level female students from Kathmandu Valley. A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken from August to November 2017 among 347 female students who were studying at the Bachelors's level. A random sampling technique was used to select study participants and a structured self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and use of ECP after securing informed consent. Epi data and SPSS version 22 were used for data processing and analysis. The mean age of the female students was 21.5 years. Overall, 91.4% of the respondents had ever heard about emergency contraceptives. The main sources of information were radio or television, the internet and newspapers. About 4.6% of the undergraduate female students used ECP. Age, marital status, use of contraceptives and knowledge of ECP used within 72 hours were significantly associated with use of ECP. Although the findings of this study showed a high prevalence of knowledge among respondents, the improvement of female students’ knowledge on specific details of ECP and its advantages/disadvantages and timely utilization needs to be considered for any future awareness programmes.  


2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Wu ◽  
Teresa Gipson ◽  
Nancy Chin ◽  
L L. Wynn ◽  
Kelly Cleland ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celia M. J. Matyanga ◽  
Blessing Dzingirai

Emergency contraceptives play a major role in preventing unwanted pregnancy. The use of emergency contraceptives is characterized by myths and lack of knowledge by both health professionals and users. The main objective of this paper is to summarize the clinical pharmacology of hormonal methods of emergency contraception. A literature review was done to describe in detail the mechanism of action, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, safety profile, and drug interactions of hormonal emergency contraceptive pills. This information is useful to healthcare professionals and users to fully understand how hormonal emergency contraceptive methods work.


Demography ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-294
Author(s):  
Pallavi Shukla ◽  
Hemant Kumar Pullabhotla ◽  
Mary Arends-Kuenning

Abstract Can women's contraceptive method choice be better understood through risk compensation theory? This theory implies that people act with greater care when the perceived risk of an activity is higher and with less care when it is lower. We examine how increased over-the-counter access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) accompanied by marketing campaigns in India affected women's contraceptive method choices and incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Although ECPs substantially reduce the risk of pregnancy, they are less effective than other contraceptive methods and do not reduce the risk of STIs. We test whether an exogenous policy change that increased access to ECPs leads people to substitute away from other methods of contraception, such as condoms, thereby increasing the risk of both unintended pregnancy and STIs. We find evidence for risk compensation in terms of reduced use of condoms but not for increases in rates of STIs.


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