{"id":8316,"date":"2013-08-14T02:39:52","date_gmt":"2013-08-14T02:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/emergency-contraception-to-the-rescue\/"},"modified":"2013-08-14T02:39:52","modified_gmt":"2013-08-14T02:39:52","slug":"emergency-contraception-to-the-rescue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/emergency-contraception-to-the-rescue\/","title":{"rendered":"Emergency contraception to the rescue!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2022You can prevent pregnancy 72 hours after unprotected sex<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

It is now known that women who have not been using any contraceptive method can still prevent pregnancy if they take certain contraceptives within 72 hours after sex.<\/p>\n

The World Health Organisation (WHO), recommends two methods of such emergency contraception: the emergency contraception pills (ECPs) and copper-bearing intrauterine device (IUDs).<\/p>\n

According to the experts, contraceptive pills containing sex hormones such as estrogens and progestogens , when used as directed after unprotected intercourse, are safe and 75 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy.<\/p>\n

The dosage, according to the experts will however be higher than when such pills are used as regular, contraceptive method.<\/p>\n

WHO recommends levonorgestrel for emergency contraceptive pill use. Ideally, this progestogen-only method should be taken as a single dose (1.5 mg) within five days (120 hours) of unprotected intercourse. Alternatively, a woman can take the levonorgestrel in two doses (0.75 mg each; 12 hours apart).<\/p>\n

Experts say Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pills prevent pregnancy by preventing or delaying ovulation. They may also work to prevent fertilization of an egg by affecting the cervical mucus or the ability of the sperm to bind to the egg. They are however not effective once the process of implantation has begun, and they will not cause abortion.<\/p>\n

The method is reported to have gained worldwide acceptance especially in the developed countries. For instance the US Food and Drum Administration (FDA), as far back as 1996, concluded \u201cthat certain oral contraceptives approved for daily use are also safe and effective as emergency contraceptive pills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since then, many countries approved the methods and these are now in the markets, clearly labeled as \u201cemergency contraceptive pills\u201d and distinct from the regular monthly cycles of oral contraceptives.<\/p>\n

Based on reports from nine studies including 10 500 women, the WHO-recommended levonorgestrel regimen is 52\u201394 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. The regimen is more effective the sooner after intercourse it is taken.<\/p>\n

The organisation also confirms that Levonorgestrel- alone emergency contraception pills are very safe and do not cause abortion or harm future fertility. Side-effects are uncommon and generally mild.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmergency contraceptive pills prevent pregnancy. They should not be given to a woman who already has a confirmed pregnancy. However, if a woman inadvertently takes the pills after she becomes pregnant, the available evidence suggests that the pills will not harm either the mother or her foetus.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmergency contraceptive pills are for emergency use only and are not appropriate for regular use as an ongoing contraceptive method because of the higher possibility of failure compared with non-emergency contraceptives. In addition, frequent use of emergency contraception can result in sideeffects such as menstrual irregularities, although their repeated use poses no known health risks, \u201c WHO further says.<\/p>\n

According to WHO, a copper-bearing IUD, could also be used as an emergency contraceptive and could be ideal for a woman who is hoping for an ongoing, highly effective contraceptive method. The IUD has to be inserted within five days of unprotected intercourse to be effective.<\/p>\n

As emergency contraception, experts say the copper-bearing IUD primarily prevents fertilization by causing a chemical change that damages sperm and egg before they can meet.<\/p>\n

When inserted within five days of unprotected intercourse, a copper-bearing IUD is over 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. This is the most effective form of emergency contraception available. Once inserted, the woman can continue to use the IUD as an ongoing method of contraception, and she may choose to change to another contraceptive method in the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only situation in which a copper-bearing IUD should never be used as emergency contraception is if a woman is already pregnant,\u201d WHO says.<\/p>\n

Experts say emergency contraception will be particularly useful in preventing unwanted pregnancy among rape victims or those who forgot to use their contracep0tives and many other s who would have resorted to unsafe abortion.<\/p>\n

They also describe this form of contraception as a back-up method particularly for the barrier method.<\/p>\n

The concept of post-coital contraception is however not entirely new to scientists. Indeed, scientists, as far back as 98 AD had sought to device a variety of methods to remove or destroy sperm to prevent it from fertilizing the woman\u2019s egg.<\/p>\n

In the ancient times, as soon as it became known that semen was in some way responsible for pregnancy, women attempted to prevent pregnancy by removing semen from the vagina or by trying to destroy sperm with an agent placed in the vagina after intercourse.<\/p>\n

Modern research however did not yield much fruits until the early 60s when it was discovered that a broad range of chemical agents have infertility effect when administered postcoitally.<\/p>\n

Contraceptive pills containing estrogens and progestogens have indeed been in use for decades usually referred to as \u201cthe morning after pills.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: National Mirror Newspaper<\/p>\n

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