title: Systematic Review of the profile of emergency contraception users.
abstract: Abastract Objective: to discern the profile of the Spanish Emergency Contraceptive users (EC).
  
  
  METHODS
  systematic review of contraceptive use in the Spanish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spanish and international databases, between January 2006 - March 2011.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Contraceptives, Postcoital pills, emergency contraception, levonorgestrel, data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  original papers, letters to the editor in which stated aims were the description, prediction or measurement of variables related to EC use. Twenty-two papers were retrieved and fourteen were finally selected, all of which were descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  manuscripts were evaluated by two independent reviewers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women requesting EC have ages between 21-24 years, mostly single and university students; declare that they have not previously used EC, and attend an Emergency department, at weekends and within 48 hours following unprotected sexual intercourse. The reason is condom rupture. None of the studies reviewed measured alcohol and other drug consumption, the number of sexual partners, nor any of the studies performed a comparison with a group not using EC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  lack of homogeneity and comprehensiveness of studied variables resulted in a limited profile of Spanish EC users. Further studies are needed with a more comprehensive approach if sexual health interventions are to be carried out in possible users.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Balearic Islands, Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria de Lluc Bauzà
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Amengual
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Majorca Primary Care Department, Balearic Health Service, Majorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Magdalena Esteva
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Canto
authors.affiliation: Health center primary care Puerto de Sagunto II, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Inmaculada Pereiro
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Berenguer
authors.affiliation: Health and consumer care department, Palma City Council, Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Ingla
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Pol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital