Who can use emergency contraception?
Any woman or girl of reproductive age may need emergency contraception to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. There are no absolute medical contraindications to the use of emergency contraception. There are no age limits for the use of emergency contraception. Eligibility criteria for general use of a copper IUD also apply for use of a copper IUD for emergency purposes.
Side Effects
Undesirable effects which have been observed are:
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness, fatigue, headache
Abdominal pain
A feeling of breast tenderness
Bleeding can occur after taking this medicine
Contraindications
Should not use this medicine
If you have hypersensitivity to Ulipristal Acetate or its any excipients
Do not use more than one time in the same menstrual cycle
If you are already pregnant
In what situations can emergency contraception be used?
Emergency contraception can be used in a number of situations following sexual intercourse. These include:
When no contraceptive has been used.
Sexual assault when the woman was not protected by an effective contraceptive method.
When there is concern of possible contraceptive failure, from improper or incorrect use, such as:
condom breakage, slippage, or incorrect use;
3 or more consecutively missed combined oral contraceptive pills;
more than 3 hours late from the usual time of intake of the progestogen-only pill (minipill), or more than 27 hours after the previous pill;
more than 12 hours late from the usual time of intake of the desogestrel-containing pill (0.75 mg) or more than 36 hours after the previous pill;
more than 2 weeks late for the norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) progestogen-only injection;
more than 4 weeks late for the depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) progestogen-only injection;
more than 7 days late for the combined injectable contraceptive (CIC);
dislodgment, breakage, tearing, or early removal of a diaphragm or cervical cap;
failed withdrawal (e.g. ejaculation in the vagina or on external genitalia);
failure of a spermicide tablet or film to melt before intercourse;
miscalculation of the abstinence period, or failure to abstain or use a barrier method on the fertile days of the cycle when using fertility awareness based methods; or
expulsion of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) or hormonal contraceptive implant.
An advance supply of ECPs may be given to a woman to ensure that she will have them available when needed and can take as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse.
