Emergency Contraception

Charlotte Ellertson; James Trussell; Felicia Stewart; Jacqueline Koenig; Elizabeth G. Raymond; Tara Shochet

doi:10.1055/s-2001-18640

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, Table of Contents

Semin Reprod Med 2001; 19(4): 323-330
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-18640

Emergency Contraception

Charlotte Ellertson¹ , James Trussell² , Felicia Stewart³ , Jacqueline Koenig⁴ , Elizabeth G. Raymond⁵ , Tara Shochet⁶

¹Director of Reproductive Health for Latin America and the Caribbean, The Population Council-Mexico, Col. Villa Coyoacan, México
²Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Associate Dean, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and Faculty Associate, Office of Population Research, Wallace Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
³Co-Director, Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, University of California, San Francisco, California
⁴Assistant Director, Online Outreach and Partnerships, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, California
⁵Associate Medical Director, Biomedical Affairs Division, Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
⁶Research Assistant, Office of Population Research, Wallace Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Emergency contraceptives are methods that prevent pregnancy when used shortly after unprotected sex. Three different emergency contraceptive methods are safe, simple, and widely available in the United States. These are: (1) ordinary combined oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel taken in a higher dose for a short period of time and started within a few days after unprotected intercourse; (2) levonorgestrel-only tablets used similarly; and (3) copper-bearing intrauterine devices inserted within approximately 1 week after unprotected intercourse. Emergency contraceptive use is best known for women who have been raped, but the methods are also appropriate for women who have experienced condom breaks, women who did not use any method because they were not planning on having sex, or women who had unprotected intercourse for any other reason. Unfortunately, few women know about emergency contraceptives, and few clinicians think to inform their patients routinely about the option. A nationwide toll-free hotline (1-888-NOT-2-LATE) and a website (http://not-2-late.com) can help women learn about these options. Sharing ``family planning's best-kept secret'' widely with women could prevent as many as a million unwanted pregnancies annually in the United States.

KEYWORD

Emergency contraception - postcoital - Yuzpe - levonorgestrel - copper-IUD

Full Text

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