Current perspectives on emergency contraception

SST Lo
Family Planning Association of Hong Kong

Emergency contraception is safe and effective for preventing an unplanned pregnancy, although it is not widely used. Widespread and appropriate use of emergency contraception should be encouraged as it is a promising means
to arrest the increasing abortion rate. It is therefore important for all doctors to be able to prescribe emergency contraceptive pills and to educate women of reproductive age about emergency contraception. This article
provides an update on the prescription of emergency contraceptives so that doctors may become more confident at prescribing emergency contraceptives and educating women about this back-up contraceptive. The current
changes in the delivery of emergency contraceptive pills from prescriptiononly through self administration to over-the-counter sales will be discussed.

Hong Kong Med J 2002;8:435-9

Key words: Contraceptives, postcoital; Emergency treatment; Intrauterine devices; Levonorgestrel; Self administration