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,…

On May 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the use of a non-hormonal emergency contraceptive (EC) when a woman in need of EC is using other interacting medicines (such as the HIV medicine efavirenz and ritonavir, certain medicines for tuberculosis and epilepsy, and herbal medicines containing St John’s wort). If using a cooper IUD…

October 2024. The ​Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) clarified that emergency contraception pills (ECPs) will remain accessible without prescription in India, and that misinterpretations have led to confusion about prescription requirements for certain hormonal contraceptives.  Read more here. In past few weeks, some news reported that a ban on over-the-counter sales of ECPs was…

April 2024. According to the Russian State Register of Medical Products emergency contraception (EC) pills containing levonorgestrel under the brand names Escapel and Postinor, have been switched to OTC products and can be bought without a doctor’s prescription since January 2024.   See registration certificates here and here.

May 2019. The UK’s Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) just published Overweight, Obesity and Contraception, a guideline that brings together evidence and expert opinion on the provision of contraception to women who are overweight and women with obesity. Recommendations are based on available evidence and the consensus opinion of experts and the guideline…