Emergency contraception (EC) refers to contraceptive methods that can be used by women following unprotected intercourse to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Several types of pills are packaged and labeled for use as emergency contraception (referred to as “dedicated” emergency contraceptive pills or ECPs). Where these products are not available, oral contraceptives – regular birth control pills – can also be used as EC. This is known as the “Yuzpe” method. Show The Yuzpe EC method is less effective and causes more side effects than dedicated ECPs. However, the Yuzpe method offers critical EC access for women without access to dedicated ECPs. As of 2014, 22 countries do not have an EC product registered and do not import EC; many of these countries have recently been or are currently affected by conflict. Even in countries where ECP products are registered, regular supplies are not always available. The Yuzpe method can be used in any place where access to dedicated ECPs remains limited. It is generally considered legally acceptable to take a drug, such as daily oral contraceptive pills, “off-label” (in other words, in a way other than the product’s label specifies).
Each dose must contain estrogen (100-120mcg ethinyl estradiol) and progestin (0.50-0.60mg levonorgestrel (LNG) or 1.0-1.2 mg norgestrel). If vomiting occurs within two hours of taking a dose, the dose should be repeated. Any brand of combined oral contraceptives can be used as long as it provides the amount of estrogen and progestin listed above. The correct number of pills should be selected to create the dose needed. A few of the most common oral contraceptives are listed below. Many pill packs include reminder pills that contain no hormones at the end of each cycle, so care should be taken that only active pills are used.
Source: The Emergency Contraception Website. “Which daily birth control pills can be used for emergency contraception worldwide?” 2014. Search for pill brands that can be used by country at: http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/default.asp.
Resources:International Consortium for Emergency Contraception and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Medical and Service Delivery Guidelines. 2012. (ICEC_Medical-and-Service-Delivery-Guide-lines-English_June-2013.pdf). International Consortium for Emergency Contraception. Emergency Contraception Pill Registration Status by Country. 2014. (ICEC_EC-Registration-Status-Factsheet_March-2014.pdf). The Emergency Contraception Website. Which daily birth control pills can be used for emergency contraception worldwide? Office of Population Research at Princeton University and the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014, from http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/default.asp#brand. Inter-agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises. Inter-agency Field Manual on Reproductive Health. 2010. (http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/emergencies/field_manual_rh_humanitarian_settings.pdf?ua=1). Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Emergency Contraception: History and Access. 2013. (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/5713/9611/6188/Emergency_Contraception_History_and_Access.pdf). Hossain S, Khan ME, Vernon R, Keesbury J, Askew I, Townsend J, Rumbold V. ECP Handbook: Introducing and Mainstreaming the Provision of Emergency Contraceptive Pills in Developing Countries. 2009. (http://www.sbccimplementationkits.org/demandrmnch/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ECP-Handbook.pdf). Trussell J, Rodríguez G, Ellertson C. Updated estimates of the effectiveness of the Yuzpe regimen of emergency contraception. Contraception. 1999;59:147–51. Can I take 3 birth control pills instead of Plan B?But if you can't get Plan B, it is possible to prevent pregnancy by taking multiple birth control pills at once, which–when taken at the correct dosage–approximates the 1mg of levonorgestrel recommended for emergency contraception.
Can 2 birth control pills be used as morning after?The sooner you take it, the better it will work. Take these pills 12 hours after taking the first set of pills. If you want to use birth control pills for emergency contraception, you must take 2 doses 12 hours apart.
Can I use regular birth control pills as emergency contraception?Can I Use Regular Birth Control Pills as Emergency Contraception? Yes, certain brands of birth control pills can be used in increased doses as emergency contraception.
Is taking a birth control pill the same as Plan B?What's the Difference Between the Morning After Pill and Birth Control Pills? The morning after pill is a single pill designed to prevent pregnancy after you have unprotected sex or a birth control mishap, while birth control pills are taken daily to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
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