BMJ 1995;311:762-763 (23 September)

Editorials

Emergency contraception

Time to loosen medical controls over its availability

Emergency hormonal contraception is well established in the form of the Yuzpe regimen.1 This comprises 100 µg ethinyloestradiol and 1 mg levonorgestrel given in two doses 12 hours apart. The first dose must be given within 72 hours of the unprotected intercourse or failure of contraception. At present only one medicinal product (PC4) is licensed for the purpose (although an alternative is four tablets of the combined oral contraceptive ethinyloestradiol 50 µg and levonorgestrel 250 µg (Ovran)), and may be obtained only on prescription from general practitioners, family planning clinics, and some accident and emergency departments. But a growing number of doctors would like emergency contraception to be made more widely available, recognising that it could do much to reduce the abortion rate among teenagers.2 Acting before implantation, the method does not constitute abortion under the terms of present legislation.

Studies suggest . . . [Full text of this article]


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Nathan, B, Evans, G, McKeever, J (1998). Practice in prescribing emergency contraceptives in A and E departments varies. BMJ 316: 149-149 [Full text]  
  • Sharma, S., Anderson, C. (1998). The impact of using pharmacy window space for health promotion about emergency contraception. Health Education Journal 57: 42-50 [Abstract]  
  • Dinwoodie, M. (1996). Emergency contraception. BMJ 312: 184c-184 [Full text]  
  • Scotson, J. (1996). Use of the term is erroneous. BMJ 312: 184d-185 [Full text]  
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