Welcome to the European Consortium for Emergency Contraception (ECEC)
Founded in 2012, ECEC works to expand knowledge about and access to Emergency Contraception (EC) in Europe, and promotes the standardization of EC service delivery to ensure equitable access across the region. Since 2020, ECEC also works globally to advance access to EC.
EC is the only contraceptive method that can be used after sex, and it provides women with an additional opportunity to prevent a pregnancy.
Through this website, we hope to contribute to generating and sharing knowledge of EC in Europe and globally. Your contributions are essential to helping us achieve this goal, and we encourage you to share EC information about your country by writing to us at ecec [at] eeirh [dot] org.
Go directly to country-by-country information on EC access
Go directly to the online EC counseling tool (The EC wheel)
Latest News
Swiss Parliament discusses simplifying access to emergency contraception
May 2026. The Swiss House of Representatives has voted in favor of easing access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) by removing the mandatory pharmacist counselling requirement . The motion, adopted on 30 April would make access to ECPs less restrictive and bring Switzerland closer to practices in most other European countries. The proposal will now…
ECEC at ESCRH 18 Congress – Belgrade
April 2026. We’re pleased to share that ECEC will be attending the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESCRH) Congress in Belgrade on May 6-9. Join us for a dedicated session on Emergency Contraception: Thursday, 7 May 2026 Block 4 Emergency Contraception Chairs: Kristina Gemzell (Sweden) & Aleksandar Jurisic (Serbia) We look forward to…
Japan launches second non-prescription emergency contraceptive pill
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…