[Emergency oral contraceptives do not interrupt pregnancy. Women are withhold the treatment which is erroneously placed on a par with abortion].
Emergency contraception (EC), which prevents pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy and thus the need for abortion. EC is, however, frequently confused with induced abortion, making the method unavailable for millions of women for religious and/or political reasons. In this paper we discuss available data on the mechanism of action and efficacy of the current accessible methods. The main mechanism of action, of emergency contraceptive pills, is to postpone or inhibit ovulation, while the insertion of a copper IUD prevents implantation.
Marions
Lena
L
Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset Solna, Stockholm, Sweden. lena.marions@karolinska.se
Gemzell Danielsson
Kristina
K
D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000379:methods*; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted
D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital