Abstract
Unintended pregnancy is a persistent public health and social concern worldwide. The initial hope was that the widespread use of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) – methods that prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex – would reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy. However, ECPs have not been demonstrated to lead to a population-level reduction in unintended pregnancy, because women do not use this moderately efficacious contraceptive often enough when they are at risk. ECPs containing 1.5 mg of the progestin levonorgestrel are available throughout the world. They are efficacious, safe and well tolerated. The only dedicated ECP available in the USA is a two-dose formulation of levonorgestrel (0.75 mg each); it is sold over the counter to clients 18 years of age and by prescription only for females under the age of over 18 years, although there is no medical rationale for requiring a prescription for any woman.
Financial disclosure
The authors have no relevant financial interests related to this manuscript, including employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.