Post-Coital Emergency Contraceptive
Emergency contraception, also known as post-coital contraception is a form of birth control that a woman may use to reduce the chances of getting pregnant after having unprotected sexual intercourse. There are four methods of emergency contraception. They include ECPs containing Levonorgestrel (LNG), ECPs containing ulipristal acetate (UPA), combined oral contraceptive pills, and copper-bearing intrauterine devices (IUD). However, the treatment is intended for specific situations, and therefore, it’s not supposed to be used as a regular form of birth control.
- How does this method work? The most common oral emergency contraceptive is the Levonorgestrel emergency contraception pill, which prevents pregnancy by delaying or stopping the release of an egg from a woman’s ovaries until the sperms become inactive. The pill does this by preventing a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in the uterus (Matyanga et al., 2018). In other words, the Levonorgestrel pill prevents follicular development when taken before the level of luteinizing hormones increases. On the other hand, the ulipristal acetate pill hinders follicular rupture even after the level of luteinizing hormone has started to increase. The pill is taken in one dose with one pill. However, this treatment cannot work if the egg has already been fertilized.
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What has to be done by the client to use the method? To effectively use this treatment, one should take it before 72 hours elapses after having sexual intercourse. However, for most people, this pill can be useful for up to four days after having sex. Moreover, if one vomits within three hours after taking the pill, she will need to take another pill. It is advised that one takes levonorgestrel pills directing after having unprotected sex.
- What is the actual (real-world) efficacy of this method?
- Ulipristal acetate can be effective when used for up to 5days after sexual intercourse, whereas Levonorgestrel can be effective when used up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse. If any of the two pills are used correctly, its success rate becomes 98% for those with average weight (Htun et al., 2019). However, for those with more than 70kg, it is recommended that they use the copper IUD, which has a success rate of 99%. Besides, studies show that ulipristal acetate is more effective than Levonorgestrel and maintains the efficiency of up to 5days.
- How long does it take to return to fertility after discontinuing this method?
The emergency contraceptive pill can be used more than once in a menstrual cycle if required, but it is not supposed to be used as a regular form of contraception. Therefore, a woman gets her fertility five days later after taking the pill (Raymond et al., 2015). However, one should understand that you can get pregnant the next time you have sex, even if it’s the next day unless you take another pill.
- Advantages and benefits of this method.
- a) The emergency contraception pill is a safe way of preventing pregnancy after having unprotected sexual intercourse or sexual assault.
- b) It is a pill consumed once, which makes it private and leaves one with an option of whether to tell your partner about it.
- c) The pills are available at the nearest chemist.
- d) It is a method of family planning
- Disadvantages of this method.
- a) The method does not work if one is already pregnant.
- b) It is limited to five days following unprotected sex.
- c) It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
- d) It may have side effects including vomiting and headaches
- Discuss the risks, if any, associated with this method.
- This pill can result in various side effects such as headaches, tummy pains, and vomiting. They can also lead to changes in periods such that one’s periods come earlier or later and become more painful than usual. Oral post-coital contraceptive has a success rate of 98%, and therefore it’s not guaranteed to prevent pregnancy, especially in women with more than 70kgs.
- Does this method affect the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections?
Emergency contraceptive pills do not prevent one from contracting sexually transmitted infections. The pill does not lower the chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases; therefore, if one had sex with someone with STI, she will get infected even after using the emergency contraceptive pill (Htun et al., 2019).
- Which of the following is not an oral post-coital contraceptive?
- IUD
- combined estrogen and progestin
- ulipristal acetate
- Levonelle
Answer: An intrauterine device (IUD) is a device made of copper wire that is inserted into the uterus as a form of birth control. Therefore it is not administered orally. However, it produces an inflammatory reaction that is toxic to eggs and sperms, thus preventing pregnancy (Matyanga et al., 2018). The other three types are all administered orally in the form of pills.
References
Htun, K. W. W., Yodmai, K., & Taechaboonsermsak, P. (2019). Emergency contraceptive pill use among women of reproductive age in Pathein, Myanmar. Journal of Health Research. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHR-07-2018-0047/full/html
Matyanga, C. M., & Dzingirai, B. (2018). Clinical Pharmacology of Hormonal Emergency Contraceptive Pills. International Journal of reproductive medicine, 2018. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijrmed/2018/2785839/
Raymond, E. G., & Cleland, K. (2015). Emergency contraception. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(14), 1342-1348. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0a18/36b17ea310ca028b8daf52438dafd013edd2.pdf