Oct 16 2009
Emergency Contraception
emergency contraception pill
Methods For Emergency Contraception
Executive Summary about emergency contraception by Olivia Andrews
A birth control pill is an effective means to avoid unwanted pregnancy each time after having an intercourse.
There are various forms of birth controls methods found such as condoms, contraceptive patches or contraceptive pills. Other methods include contraceptive sponge, vaginal ring, diaphragm or other fertility awareness methods.
A contraceptive pill contains the hormones estrogen and progesterone that prevent pregnancy.
An emergency control pill helps to avoid unwanted pregnancy when there has been an unprotected intercourse but this pill has to be taken within three days of the act. Other include are mini pill and phased regime pills that are not much common in use.
There are chances that while using a condom it broke or a woman fails to take the hormonal birth control pill on time then emergency control pill is very effective if taken within 72 hours of the intercourse.
The main difference between a combination pill and an emergency pill is that it holds larger amount of levonorgestrel that works to avoid pregnancy.
When You Need Emergency Contraception?
Executive Summary about emergency contraception by Linda Crowford
Emergency contraception (EC) is not the substitute for regular birth control methods or abortion but, in fact, is the “emergency” option for women to avoid pregnancy after contraception failure, sexual assault or unprotected intercourse. Emergency contraception, specially Progestin-only birth control pills like Plan B, are advised to women seeking immediate action to avoid pregnancy.
Emergency contraception pills are also known as “morning-after”, “EC” or “Postcoital Contraception” in medical terms. However, “morning-after” doesn’t mean that emergency contraception pills to be taken in the morning.
Types of emergency contraception methods :
These are available in broadly three ways whereas two methods are in pill form and another is device known as intrauterine device. Two types of pills are progestin-only like Plan B and usual combined birth control pills (progestin and estrogen). Intrauterine device is also used as emergency contraception and suggested to women who are allergic to progestin or estrogen based pills.
How Emergency contraception pills work?
Like other birth control pills, EC works by stopping ovulation (i.e release of eggs) and preventing sperm to meet with eggs for fertilization, hence there is no pregnancy.
When to take Emergency contraception?
EC must be taken as soon as the unprotected intercourse has occurred. Progestin-only pills like Plan B contraceptive pills are available in two tablets. – 95% effective if taken within 24 hours
Who should seek Emergency contraception help :
Women can take EC if
- women are sexually abused, raped or forced to go for unprotected intercourse.
- if she has another unprotected intercourse in the same menstrual cycle.
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Image from crisispregnancy.co.uk
