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First participatory survey on pharmacy access to EC in Europe.

Help us learn more about how real access to emergency contraception (EC) is in Europe!  July / Sept 2019. The European Youth Network on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YouAct) and ECEC, launch the first participatory survey on pharmacy access to EC in Europe. With this effort, we want to: Learn how EC products are placed and stocked in…

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New international guidance on EC pills

January 2019. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the International Consortium for Emergency Contraception (ICEC), launch the 4th edition of “Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Medical and Service Delivery Guidance”. The guidance is designed to serve as a key reference and training document for service provision. It includes a range of medical and service delivery…

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EC included in new WHO contraception Apps  

December 2018. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently launched two new Apps for healthcare providers advising women on contraception. The “Humanitarian settings contraception” App, is intended for front-line health care providers to help women initiate contraception in humanitarian and emergency settings. More information here. The “WHO MEC” App, will facilitate the task of family planning…

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The EC wheel: now available on-line and in French

 “Emergency contraception methods” (the EC wheel), a counselling tool for pharmacists and health providers published in May 2016 by ECEC, is now available in French,  and can be used from tablets, cellphones and computers (on and off line). This tool is inspired in the WHO Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (MEC) wheel, and based on the…

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Recommendations for quickstarting hormonal contraception after UPA EC

Over the past year, there have been discussions around whether hormonal contraception should be resumed immediately after the intake of UPA EC. The concern is that using a progestin-containing contraceptive could counteract the effects of UPA EC. UPA is an anti-progestin that works by delaying or inhibiting ovulation; if a progestin-containing contraceptive is administered at the…

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European Commission decision grants 120 million women direct access to ellaOne®

HRA Pharma announced that the European Commission, in a historic ruling, has authorized the emergency contraceptive ellaOne® to be accessible directly from pharmacies without the need for a prescription from a doctor. This is the first ever decision of its type regarding any oral contraceptive product applicable to all EU member states, according to national…

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EMA recommends availability of ulipristal acetate emergency contraceptive pills, without prescription

On November 21st 2014, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended that the EC pill containing ulipristal acetate, be made available without the need for a prescription in all European Union countries. EMA recommendation should be implemented in a few months, once it has been endorsed by the European Commission. For further information, please read EM’As…

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LNG and UPA remain suitable EC options for all, EMA concludes

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) released the following statement today: “The European Medicines Agency has concluded its review of emergency contraceptives containing levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate to assess whether increased bodyweight affects the effectiveness of these medicines in preventing unintended pregnancy following unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. The Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human…

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European Medicines Agency to review EC

Beginning in January 2014, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) started reviewing emergency contraceptives to assess whether increased body weight and body mass index (BMI) reduce the efficacy of these medications. Based on the results of this review, EMA will assess whether any changes should be made to the product information for emergency contraceptives containing levonorgestrel…

ECEC publishes article in WHO’s Entre Nous magazine

ECEC has published an article in WHO’s Entre Nous European Magazine for Sexual and Reproductive Health. In it, ECEC outlines the unequal EC access situation in Europe and advocates for the standardization of EC guidelines across the continent to help reduce these inequalities. Ultimately, ECEC recommends that every woman seeking EC be informed of the…

Center for Reproductive Rights releases fact sheet on contraceptive access in the European Union

The Center for Reproductive Rights recently released a fact sheet titled “Access to Contraceptives in the European Union: Human Rights, Barriers and Good Practices,” which outlines different barriers to access in the region and highlights some examples considered best practices. Although states are obligated under international law to provide women with access to a full…