Emergency Contraception: Do Your Patients Have a Plan B?

Holly Bullock; Jennifer Salcedo

doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2015.08.003

Emergency Contraception: Do Your Patients Have a Plan B?

Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2015 Dec;42(4):699-712. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2015.08.003.

Authors

Holly Bullock¹, Jennifer Salcedo²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, 1319 Punahou Street, Suite 824, Honolulu, HI 96826, USA. Electronic address: bullockh@hawaii.edu.
² Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, 1319 Punahou Street, Suite 824, Honolulu, HI 96826, USA.

PMID: 26598310
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2015.08.003

Abstract

Emergency contraception is used after unprotected sex, inadequately protected sex, or sexual assault to reduce the risk of pregnancy. Of emergency contraceptive methods available in the United States, the copper intrauterine device has the highest efficacy, followed by ulipristal acetate, levonorgestrel-containing emergency contraceptive pills, and the Yuzpe method. However, access to the most effective methods is limited. Although advanced prescription of emergency contraceptive pills and counseling on emergency contraception to all reproductive-aged women is recommended, women should be advised to contact their health care providers after taking emergency contraceptive pills to discuss possible copper intrauterine device placement and other follow-up.

Keywords: Access; Copper intrauterine device; Emergency contraception; Levonorgestrel; Ulipristal acetate.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Contraception, Postcoital*
Directive Counseling
Female
Humans
Intrauterine Devices, Copper*
Levonorgestrel / administration & dosage*
Norpregnadienes / administration & dosage*
Patient Education as Topic
Pregnancy
Time Factors
United States

Substances

Norpregnadienes
Levonorgestrel
ulipristal acetate