News

In an effort to curb the number of unwanted pregnancies in Latvia, a small-scale study was undertaken to determine male students’ knowledge about and attitudes towards EC, the first of its kind undertaken in this country. Researchers posited that within Riga Stradins University, male students of the Social Science Faculty were less informed about EC…

In 2012, HRA Pharma and the BVA Institute conducted a survey among a representative sample of 2,500 women aged 16-45 on their perceptions of EC. The survey found that among women who reported having unprotected or inadequately protected intercourse, only 20% used EC, due mainly to an underestimation of the risk of pregnancy. This survey…

Amid concerns that OTC (over the counter) EC access might result in less efficient use of contraceptive methods, overuse, and riskier sexual behavior, Swiss researchers studied whether the behaviors of EC users have changed since EC was made OTC in 2002. The researchers studied the profiles of EC users in a pharmacy in the city…

On June 20, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially announced its approval to sell LNG EC over-the-counter with no age or point-of-sale restrictions. This decision puts an end to an almost decade-long dispute over the accessibility of EC, and the US now joins a small group of countries where LNG EC is sold…

A recent UK study examined how the use of ulipristal acetate (UPA), levonorgestrel (LNG), and the copper-intrauterine device for emergency contraception changed following the introduction of new UK Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) guidelines. The new guidelines recommend that for emergency contraception, health professionals should discuss individual needs and inform women of the…

On May 15th, the Health Committee of the Bundestag  (German parliament) resolved not to remove the prescription status of LNG EC. The coalition currently in office (CDU and FDP),  turned down the request by the SPD and Die LINKE parties to change LNG to prescription-free status. The political parties that requested the change of status claim…

Data from the study “Women’s perception of emergency contraceptive pills” are now available. The study examined Spanish women’s opinions and knowledge on hormonal EC. The researchers’ findings included the following: 84% of Spanish women consider that having the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) available is a major breakthrough for woman. 76% considered that the ECP is…

In Germany, the discussion continues over whether levonorgestrel-only emergency contraception should be issued in the future without a doctor’s prescription. Currently, a prescription is still needed in order to purchase emergency contrantraception, and only physicians can prescribe it. At a hearing of the Health Committee of the Bundestag in April, testimony was given by health…

A health group in Scotland is calling on government Ministers to allow school nurses to dispense emergency contrantraception to students.  The Scottish Sexual Health Lead Clinicians Group suggests that nurses could dispense condoms and emergency contraception to school children in order to help reduce teen pregnancy rates, which have been holding steady at 7.1 per 1,000…

It was decided at the Swiss Catholic Bishops Conference that women who have been raped may use emergency contrantraception, echoing similar rulings made recently by German bishops. However, the Swiss bishops confused the issue by stating that EC can only be used when there is a contraceptive effect and not when it induces an abortion,…

In a welcome announcement, Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne, Germany stated that he supported the use of emergency contrantraception in Catholic hospitals to treat rape victims since it did not induce abortions. This statement comes after two Catholic hospitals in Germany received widespread negative press after refusing to treat a female rape victim because they could…