Emergency Contraception-A Last Chance to Prevent Unintended Pregnancy:What Everyone Should Know and What Sikkimese Knows

Unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortions possess a major global problem. Unsafe and illegal abortions are among the top five leading causes of maternal mortality in developing countries. World Health Organization estimated that in developing countries every eight minutes one woman dies due to unsafe abortions. Unintended pregnancies result from unprotected sex or contraceptive non-use, misuse and method failure. A recent survey showed that India tops the list in unprotected sex. Most of the pregnancies in India are unplanned. Use of effective contraception will surely decrease unwanted pregnancies and abortion rates. However, no family planning method is hundred percent effective and people do not always use the methods correctly. Emergency contraceptives (EC) are the methods of contraception used for preventing a pregnancy after an unplanned or unprotected sexual intercourse or when a regular contraceptive method fails. There are three types of Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs)-combined ECPs containing both estrogen and progestin, progestin‐only ECPs, and ECPs containing an antiprogestin (mifepristone). Under the National Reproductive and Child Health Programme, the Drug Controller of India has only approved Levonorgestrel (LNG) 0.75mg tablets for use as ECP. The emergency contraceptive pills must be preferably taken or given within 72 hours of an unprotected act of intercourse. ECPs are Safe and effective, easy to use and widely available. They can be taken at any time during the monthly cycle. They are highest efficacious when they are taken soon after unprotected coitus. ECPs can be provided safely and effectively by any well informed health care providers. Adequate knowledge of EC is essential among health care providers so that they can propagate information among general population.