Abstract
Emergency contraceptives (ECs) offer a “second chance” to prevent an unin-tended pregnancy. It is estimated that if the general population had better knowl-edge and easier access to ECs, their use could potentially cut the number of abortions performed each year in the United States in half. There are three major options available for emergency contraception: progestin-only pills (POPs), combination oral contraceptives (OCs), and insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD). Currently, there are 2 POPs and 18 combination pills (estrogen plus progestin) available that must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex according to treatment protocols listed in Table 1. The third option is insertion of a copper IUD within 5 days of unprotected sex. The progestin-only products, Plan B® and Ovrette®, are associated with less nausea than combined estrogen plus progestin EC products. Plan B is the only product designated and packaged as an EC.
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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
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Shoupe, D. (2006). Emergency Contraceptives. In: Shoupe, D., Kjos, S.L. (eds) The Handbook of Contraception. Current Clinical Practice. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-150-5_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-150-5_12
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