Emergency contraception is most effective when ...

Emergency contraception is most effective when taken within 12-24 hours after unprotected sex. There are two types of emergency contraception(EC) 1) The emergency contraceptive pill containing levonorgestrel (LNG) ECPs with LNG taken as a single dose of 1.5 mg, or alternatively, LNG taken in 2 doses of 0.75 mg each, 12 hours apart. This pill acts best when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. This pill is available over the counter. Unwanted 72 or I pill is available in India as a single tablet. 2)The emergency contraceptive pill containing ulipristal acetate (UPA). Is available only with a doctor's prescription.At present it is not used as an EC in India, though it is used for other gynec problems. For the best chance for it to work, you should take the emergency pill as soon as possible. Efficacy changes over time: while it’s 95% effective within the first 24 hours after unprotected sex, that number drops to 58% when the pill is taken within 49-72 hours. 3) Birth control pills can also be used as emergency contraception, but you have to take more than one pill at a time to keep from getting pregnant. This approach works, but it is less effective and more likely to cause nausea than levonorgestrel. CAN YOU TAKE MORE THAN ONE PILL IN A MONTH Repeated administration within a menstrual cycle is not advisable because of the possibility of disturbance of the cycle and a very high hormone dose. The emergency pill (morning after pill) should not be relied on as a regular form of contraception, and it is not as effective as other forms of hormonal contraception specifically made for regular use. To be continued......Dr Nandini shete