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Women who do not have contraindications for oral contraceptives (OCs) and have experienced failure of their contraceptive method or used no contraceptive at all an use emergency postcoital contraceptive pills (ECPs). In fact, if used correctly, they could prevent 1.7 million unplanned pregnancies each year which is 50% lower than such pregnancies which already occur each year. They could also reduce the number of annual induced abortions by 50% from (1.6 million to 800,000). Various postcoital treatments in the US are 2 pills of Ovral within 72 hours of intercourse then 2 more pills 12 hours later and 4 pills of either Lo/Ovral, Nordette, Levlen, Triphasil, or Tri-Levlen followed by 4 more pills 12 hours later. Some gynecologists contend that any low-dose combined OC could be used as an ECP, but not study proves this. Besides, providers who do so risk a malpractice suit, because postcoital contraception is not on OC labels. An attorney suggests using OCs only for an emergency and to document all attempts at informed consent. Many children and clinicians have limited or no knowledge about ECPs. Those health providers who are familiar with them tend not to prescribe them because they fear legal actions. ECP side effects include severe nausea or vomiting, headache, breast tenderness,, dizziness, and fluid retention. These effects are not as great as the health risks of unplanned pregnancies, however. Yet, they are unpleasant enough to discourage repeated ECP use. Use of different methods of determining the number of pregnancies has resulted in broad ECP effectiveness rates (0-96% and 56-94%). Another analysis using combined data from the studies yielding the various results shows the effectiveness rate to be 75%. Anti-abortion groups may object to ECP use, just as they do for RU-486 which has fewer side effects, because one of its mechanisms of preventing pregnancy is it prevents implantation.
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PMID:Postcoital pills could cut unplanned pregnancies by half. 1231 83

This article answers some questions about use of emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) in the US. It is acceptable to prescribe ECPs over the telephone. ECPs should not be given to women with severe migraine headaches with neurologic impairment. ECPs are acceptable for women who are smokers and over 35 years old, diabetics with vascular disease, women with a history of severe migraine, and women with a benign or malignant liver tumor. Women who seek ECPs over 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse could have ECPs, insertion of a Copper T380 IUD, or Ru-486, when available in the US. Lo-Ovral4+4 is the preferred ECP. Ovral2+2 is less often available and tends to cost more. An ECP prescription might indicate Phenergan (25 mg), 4 tablets, taken between 6 and 7 PM, and repeated in 12 hours. Another ECP prescription might indicate Lo-Ovral (21-pill pack), 4 tablets taken one half hour after anti-nausea medication, and repeated in 12 hours. If nausea is severe from the first or second dose of Lo-Ovral, an extra tablet of Phenergan may be taken. For continued contraception, the patient should be prescribed a low-dose pill and not a 50 mcg pill. The most common transition from ECP combined pills to regular oral contraception is to prescribe 4 tablets followed by 4 tablets 12 hours later, and to start a new package of pills the Sunday after menstruation begins. Nonlapsed pill taking involves taking the 4 tablets, followed by 4 tablets in 12 hours, and 1 tablet taken daily for the next 13 days (with backup contraception the first 7 days), and a lapse for 7 days. Nothing needs to be done for vomiting. Women are not likely to abuse this option. It should be widely known and appreciated that mistakes do happen, emergency contraception does work, and women should be aware of ECPs. 98% of women bleed by 21 days after ECP use. There appears to be no increased risk of birth defects among pill users who become pregnant.
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PMID:10 common questions on emergency contraception. 1234 14


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