title: [Postcoital emergency contraception].
abstract: The actual methods of postcoital emergency contraception are described and compared. The method of choice is the administration of a progestagen-only pill because this method is more reliable and effective than the use of a combined estrogen-progestagen pill ("Yuzpe-Method"), and because the incidence of side-effects is considerably lower. The results obtained with levonorgestrel alone are presented by the authors. The postcoital introduction of a copper intrauterine device is highly effective, but invasive. This method is indicated if it is too late to use the pill. An open and accepting setting of the consultation and a way of taking the medical history that is pointing to the auto-responsibility are essential, especially for adolescents. Low conditions for the admission to the counselling are postulated, and the obligation to possess a medical prescription to obtain the only progestagen-only pill is questioned.
authors.affiliation: Familienplanungs- und Beratungsstelle, Universitäts-Frauenklinik, Inselspital Bern.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spycher
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bigler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003283:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000075202:Contraindications; D003613:Danazol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017277:Drug Approval; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000009:adverse effects; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003283:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Synthetic; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D015735:Mifepristone; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D003613:Danazol