"Expanding knowledge and access
to emergency contraception"
"Expanding knowledge and access to emergency contraception in Europe"
April 2026 — A new levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptive (EC) pill, Lesoeru 72, has been approved and launched in Japan, becoming the second brand available without a prescription in the country. According to Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd., approval was granted on 10 February 2026, with distribution starting in March. Lesoeru 72 is classified as a pharmaceutical…
April 2026 — A ulipristal acetate (UPA)-based emergency contraceptive (EC) pill is now available in Argentina. Since March 2026, Efectiva 30, manufactured by Laboratorios CASASCO, has been distributed in pharmacies nationwide. The product is available by prescription only and is expected to retail at approximately USD 12, with lower prices anticipated through union-run health insurance…
April 2026. The latest State of Self-Care Report 2025 highlights growing interest in new, user-controlled contraceptive options, including pericoital (on-demand) pills. Two case studies from Malawi, Kenya, and Uganda provide valuable insights into how women and adolescent girls perceive these methods and the potential role they could play in expanding contraceptive choice. Summary of findings:…
April 2026. The European Consortium for Emergency Contraception (ECEC) is happy to take part in the 46th Annual Congress of the European Pharmaceutical Students’ Associations (EPSA), happening in Poland from April 13–19, 2026. EPSA represents over 100,000 pharmacy students across 36 European countries, making this a great opportunity to connect with the next generation of…
March 2026. The Asociación Médica Argentina de Anticoncepción (AMAdA) published a new consensus document on emergency contraception (EC). This provides evidence-based recommendations on the use of regular EC methods (levonorgestrel (LNG) and ulipristal acetate (UPA) EC pills and the copper-bearing intrauterine device (IUD)), and also addresses the use of LNG-releasing IUD for EC. The document…
March 2026. A new animated lesson from TED-Ed explores the science behind emergency contraception and answers a common question: how does the morning-after pill actually work? In “How does the morning-after pill prevent pregnancy?”, physician and researcher Alison Edelman explains the biological mechanisms behind emergency contraceptive pills and addresses widespread misconceptions about their function. Using…
February 2026. A global review published in October 2025, highlights the important role sexual well-being plays in whether people continue using contraception. Drawing on data from 64 studies conducted between 2004 and 2023, the research found that around 5% of people who stopped using contraception—despite still wanting to prevent pregnancy —did so because of concerns…
February 2026 – A new qualitative study explored how community pharmacists in Australia make decisions about providing emergency contraception (EC) and how professional guidelines support this care. Pharmacists described existing guidelines as inaccessible, ambiguous, and impractical for use in busy pharmacy settings. The findings highlight the need for further research to optimise guideline usability and…
February 2026. The ASTRA Network and ECEC continue their collaboration to monitor access to emergency contraception across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In the latest issue of ASTRA’s Bulletin, we share findings on the discontinuation of low-dose mifepristone emergency contraceptive (EC) pills in the Russian Federation and the resulting impact on availability in…
February 2026. As of 1 February, levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive (EC) pills are available for sale in pharmacies and drugstores in Japan. Currently, only one brand of EC pills has been approved for non-prescription sale. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is 7,480 yen: approximately USD 48 (Source: https://www.daiichisankyo-hc.co.jp.) According to ECEC data, prior to the regulatory…
January 2026. The European Consortium for Emergency Contraception (ECEC) reveals significant disparities in the availability and pricing of emergency contraceptive (EC) pills worldwide. The report Emergency contraceptive pills database – Data summary as of November 2025 is based on data from 127 countries, stored on the open-access database. Levonorgestrel (LNG) pills dominate the market, available…
January 2025. Two studies published in 2023 and 2025 provide the first empirical evidence on the impacts of introducing over-the-counter (OTC) emergency contraception (EC) in Europe. Both studies find that removing prescription requirements leads to substantial increases in EC use. A 2023 study by Gregor Pfeifer and Mirjam Stockburger (Journal of Health Economics) shows that…
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