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Emergency Contraception (EC) and the Prevention of Unintended Pregnancy

Learn about the need for emergency contraception, its types, effectiveness, safety, and mechanism of action to prevent unintended pregnancies. Discover how ECPs work, their limitations, and where to obtain them.

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Emergency Contraception (EC) and the Prevention of Unintended Pregnancy

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  1. 1 Emergency Contraception (EC) and the Prevention of Unintended Pregnancy Kenneth D. Rosenberg, MD, MPH Oregon Office of Family Health Portland, Oregon 8th Annual MCH Epidemiology Conference December 12, 2002 Clearwater Beach, Florida

  2. 2 Why Is Emergency Contraception Needed? • About 10 million couples have sexual intercourse every night in America • Approximately 27,000 condoms break or slip • Even perfect contraceptors can and do experience contraceptive failure • Others may fail to use contraception at all Source:Trussell & Kowal, 1998.

  3. 3 Unintended Pregnancy • Pregnancy that is unwanted or mistimed at conception • Approximately half of all unintended pregnancies end in abortion • Greater risks for mother • depression, physical abuse, risk of not achieving educational, financial, career goals, relationship challenges • Greater risks for child • low birthweight, infant mortality, abuse, neglect Source:Institute of Medicine, 1995.

  4. 4 The Institute of Medicine Recommends That the Nation Adopt a New Social Norm All pregnancies should be intended – that is, they should be consciously and clearly desired at the time of conception. Source:Institute of Medicine, 1995.

  5. 5 Current Proportion of Unintended Pregnancy United States: 49% Oregon: 51% 43% of live births 95% of abortions Source:Henshaw, 1998, Oregon Health Division, 1997.

  6. 6 What Is Emergency Contraception? • Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) • Have been in use since the 1960s • Often referred to as “the morning-after pill” • IUD Insertion • Within 5 days (120 hours) of unprotected sex • Can also be a long-term contraceptive method

  7. 7 Emergency Contraceptive Pills • Consist of two doses of the same hormones found in birth control pills • Must be taken within three days (72 hours) of unprotected sex • Can be used to prevent pregnancy AFTER unprotected sex

  8. ECPs Can Be Used Any Time Unprotected Intercourse Has Occurred 8 • A woman was raped • No contraception used • Condom slipped, leaked, or broke • Diaphragm or cervical cap inserted incorrectly, removed too soon, or torn • Two consecutive birth control pills were missed • An IUD was partially or totally expelled • A three-month contraceptive injection was missed by more than two weeks • A one-month contraceptive injection was missed by more than three days

  9. 9 Limitations of ECPs • ECPs are not a good long-term method of contraception • Should be used as a bridge to a regular form of birth control • ECPs do not protect against STDs

  10. 10 Are ECPs Safe? • ECPs are safe and easy to use • The amount of active ingredient (hormone) is small • Short-term use • Repeated use is safe Source: WHO, 1996.

  11. 11 What if a Woman Is Already Pregnant? • ECPs cannot dislodge an established pregnancy • They do not cause abortion • ECPs do not affect fetal development Source: Lancet, 1998.

  12. Progestin-only Reduces the risk of pregnancy by 89% Side effects Nausea (23%) Vomiting (6%) Estrogen and Progestin Reduces the risk of pregnancy by 75% Side effects Nausea (50%) Vomiting (20%) 12 Two Types of ECPs Both Methods: First dose within 72 hours after intercourse Second dose 12 hours later Source: Lancet, 1998.

  13. 13 Effectiveness: Progestin Only 100 women have unprotected sex in the 2nd or 3rd week of their cycle 8 will become pregnant without emergency contraception 1 will become pregnant using progestin-only ECPs (89% reduction) Source: FDA, 1997.

  14. 14 Effectiveness: Combination Pill (Estrogen + Progestin) 100 women have unprotected sex in the 2nd or 3rd week of their cycle 8 will become pregnant without emergency contraception 2 will become pregnant using combined ECPs (75% reduction) Source: Trussell, Rodriguez, and Ellertson, 1998.

  15. 15 How Do ECPs Work? • The same way as ordinary birth control pills • They can prevent or delay the release of a woman’s egg (ovulation) • ECPs may affect the uterine lining so that a fertilized egg cannot implant • ECPs may prevent fertilization by affecting the movement of sperms and their ability to fertilize an egg Source: Swahn et al., 1996; Ling et al., 1979; Rowlands et al., 1986; Ling et al., 1983; Kubba et al., 1986; Taskin et al., 1994; Von Hertzen & Van Look, 1996.

  16. 16 Pregnancy Prevention • NIH, FDA, and ACOG all define pregnancy as beginning with implantation • It takes about 6 days for a fertilized egg to begin to implant • Intervention within 72 hours cannot result in abortion • ECPs are not effective if a woman is already pregnant Source: Code of Federal Regulations, 1998; Hughes, 1972.

  17. 17 Key Points on Mechanism of Action • Will not interrupt or harm an established pregnancy • Will not affect future fertility • ECPs are not the same as the “abortion pill” (RU486), which is used after pregnancy is already established

  18. 18 Where Can Women Get ECPs? • Medical provider • Walk-in visit/appointment • Telephone screening • Call the Emergency Contraception Hotline for nearest location: 1-888-NOT-2-LATE (1-888-668-2528) or visit the website at http://not-2-late.com

  19. 19 Oregon PRAMS Survey • Annual survey of postpartum women • Since 1998 • Survey about 2000 women/year • Sample drawn from birth certificates

  20. 20 PRAMS Survey Results • 1998-99: 70% of postpartum women had heard of “the morning-after pill” • Most likely to have not heard: • Less than 12 years education • Annual family income <$30,000 • Pregnancy unintended

  21. 21 Advance Prescription of ECPs • More effective when taken sooner • Reduces access barrier • Not more likely to use repeatedly • Filled or not filled

  22. 22 Expanded Access Through Pharmacies • Collaborative agreement between pharmacists and prescribers in Washington State • Pharmacists counsel and dispense without physician prescription • In first sixteen months of project almost 12,000 women received ECPs directly from a pharmacist • New laws in California and Alaska

  23. 23 Spread the Word: • Routinely discuss ECPs • Make ECP materials available in agency settings • Encouraging advance prescriptions • College providers • Emergency providers

  24. 24 Additional Resources • www.backupyourbirthcontrol.org • American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology: www.acog.org/… • Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH): www.path.org/… • CD Summary article: www.oshd.or/cdsum/2002/ohd5111.htm • List of retail pharmacies that stock EC: http://www.go2planB.com

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