Emergency contraception methods: efficacy, safety and acceptability

Abstract

Prevention of unwanted pregnancies, abortions and their complications is one of the major problems of healthcare. The most effective method of unwanted pregnancies prevention is family planning with highly effective contraceptive methods. Currently number of unwanted pregnancies cases is still numerous. Problem of unwanted pregnancy cannot be solved completely with any method of contraception. Every fourth pregnancy in the world is considered as unplanned, more than half of them end in abortion, which can pose a threat to health of the patient. Overall, more than 90% of abortions are performed due to unwanted pregnancies. Emergency contraception continues to play an important role in family planning today. It is known that the effectiveness of emergency contraception decreases with the time after unprotected sex. Today a variety of emergency contraception methods exists, which allows individual approach to specific patient. The article presents the results of randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses evaluating all currently used methods of emergency contraception from the evidence-based point of view. The article also describes drugs specifics, features, and effects on the reproductive system.