In what situations can emergency contraceptive be used?
Following are the situations where emergency contraceptive should be considered:
- When no contraceptive has been used or totally unprotected intercourse.
- Sexual assault when the woman is not protected by an effective contraceptive method.
- When there is concern of possible contraceptive failure, from improper or incorrect use, such as:
- Condom breakage, slippage or incorrect use
- Failed withdrawal (e.g. ejaculation in the vagina or on external genitalia)
- Three or more consecutively missed combined oral contraceptive pills
- Intrauterine contraceptive device expulsion or mid-cycle removal
- Spermicide alone at mid-cycle
- More than three hours late from the usual time of intake or more than 27 hours after
the previous pill
- More than 12 hours late from the usual time of intake of the desogestrel containing
pill (0.75 mg) or more than 36 hours after the previous pill
- Miscalculation of the abstinence period, or failure to abstain or use a barrier method
on the fertile days of the cycle when using fertility awareness based methods
- Expulsion of an intrauterine contraceptive device or hormonal contraceptive implant
- An advance supply of emergency contraception may be given to a woman to ensure that she
will have them available when needed and can take as soon as possible after unprotected
intercourse.