Helps prevent pregnancy in various circumstances which include contraceptive failure, unprotected sexual intercourse, or sexual assault.
Emergency contraceptives that reduce pregnancy risk when used after unprotected intercourse, and is most effectively achieved with a copper IUD, which reduces pregnancy risk to 0.1% when placed within five days of unprotected intercourse.
Half of all pregnancies in the US are unintended.
Four methods are available: copper intrauterine device and three oral methods: levonorgestrel, ulipristal acetate, and the Yuzpe regimen.
Oral emergency contraception includes a single dose of either a progestin or an anti-progestin (Ulipristal acetate).
These agents work by blocking with delaying ovulation, and neither is an abortifacient.
Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg, a progestin only agent.(LNG)
Ulipristal acetate a selective progestin receptor modulator.
Yupze regimen is a high dose combined estrogen and progestin oral contraceptives.
All emergency contraceptive options can be used within five days of intercourse.
Copper IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception with almost 100 percent efficacy.
Among oral methods ulipristal acetate it is the most effective.
Ulipristal acetate associated with approximately half the number of pregnancies compared to levonorgestrel.
Both above agents have similar effectiveness when used within 72 hours post coitus, the Ulipristal acetate is more effective preventing pregnancy beyond 72 hours post coitus.
Levonorgestrel does not require a prescription.
Yuzpe regimen of multiple oral contraceptive pills is the least effective emergency contraceptive method, and associated with increased nausea compared with LNG.
Yuzpe regimen consist of two doses, 12 hours apart, 100 µg of ethinyl estradial +0.5 to 1 mg LNG.