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Insertion of an IUD can be done by a clinician within five to seven days of unprotected intercourse.

The Copper T-380 A IUD (ParaGard) is used for emergency contraception. It can be left in place for up to 10 years to provide very effective contraception. Or, if you prefer, the IUD can be removed after your next menstrual period, when it is certain that you are not pregnant.

IUD insertion for emergency contraception is not recommended for women who are at risk for sexually transmitted infections:

• women with more than one sex partner or whose partners have more than one partner

• women with new partners

• women who have been raped

The side effects, advantages, and disadvantages of using IUDs for emergency contraception are the same as those associated with using IUDs for ongoing contraception.

Effectiveness of Emergency Contraception

Of 1,000 women who use emergency IUD insertion, only one will become pregnant.

Of 100 women who use emergency hormonal contraception, up to two will become pregnant.

The closer a woman is to ovulation at the time of unprotectected intercourse, the less likely the method will succeed. If 100 women have vaginal intercourse without contraception during the second î third weeks of their cycle when they are most fertile, eight will become pregnant. Using emergency contraception reduces a woman’s chance by about 75 percent—two out of 100 during her most fertile days.

Emergency contraception is meant for emergencies only. It is not as effective as the regular use of reversible contraception—Norplant, Depo-Provera, the IUD, or the Pill.

Morning-after pills only help prevent pregnancy from one act îf unprotected intercourse. They do not continue to prevent pregnancy during the rest of the cycle. Other methods of birth control must be used.

Emergency contraception offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections.

Where to Get Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception is available at Planned Parenthood health centers, public clinics and women’s health centers, private doctors and hospital emergency rooms—unless they are affiliated with religions that oppose the use of birth control.

You can get the name, address, and phone number of three emergency contraception providers nearest you by calling, toll-free, the emergency contraception hot line—800-584-9911.

Take-home packs

Packs of morning-after pills are available from some women’s health centers for women whose medical histories are well known to their clinicians. Take-home kits allow women to use the medication u emergency situations without having to wait to see their clinicians.

What Emergency Contraception Costs

Costs vary. Costs depend on which of the following services are needed. Here are some estimates:

Morning-after pills

Morning-after pills kit $8 to $15

One pack of combination pills $20

Two packs of progestin-only pills $50

Visit with health care provider $35 to $150

Pregnancy test $10 to $20

Total cost $75 to $245

Fees may be less at family planning clinics and health centers.

IUD

The ParaGard IUD costs about $450 for exam, IUD, and insertion. It lasts for 10 years, however, which works out to only $45 a year if left in place.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at 10:58 am and is filed under Women's Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.