©Pregnancy bliss 2008
‘Morning -after Pill’ or Emergency Contraception
Emergency Contraception has been with us for over three decades now. The intended user is a woman who wishes to prevent unplanned pregnancy following unanticipated sexual intercourse or failure of a barrier method of contraception such as a ruptured condom.
Emergency contraception is supposed to be very effective if taken in the recommended
period. The success is traditionally quoted at 95% if taken in the first 24 hours,
falling to a shade over 50% if taken on the third day, that is 49-
The ‘Morning After’ Pill
Emergency contraception is more popularly known as the Morning After Pill. If the use actually lived up to the letter and spirit of this moniker, then we would expect it to be very effective. What is the reality? We shall see shortly.
What is Emergency Contraception
At risk of stating the obvious, it is important to explain that self-
Emergency contraception is also available in the form of an intrauterine device (IUD
or ‘coil’) which has to be inserted in the same 72 hour window. This is more effective
but is used much less partly because it cannot be self-
Availability of Emergency Contraception:
In the UK, the ‘Morning After Pill can be bought over the counter, without a prescription, by anybody over the age of 16. It is also available (free) from GP surgeries, Family Planning clinics, GUM clinics and Brook Clinics.
In Australia, in 2004 the Emergency Contraceptive pill was re-
France had been there well before with the approval of over the counter Emergency Contraception pill (NorLevo®) without prescription in 1999.
Many other countries have since removed this restriction including developing countries such as South Africa and India. This is to make the availability as easy as possible.
