There are 2 modern methods of postcoital contraception--the morning after pill and the postcoital IUCD. Patients requesting postcoital treatment fall into 2 broad categories. An example of the 1st category is a young couple having intercourse for the 1st time. In the majority of cases 1st intercourse is unpremeditated and unprotected. Victims of sexual assualt fall into this category and were the 1st cases where postcoital treatment was used. The 2nd category encompasses couples who experience contraceptive accidents. The advantages of the IUCD as a postcoital agent are its high efficacy and the fact that it can be used up to 5 days after exposure to the risk of pregnancy. It is the only choice if hormones are contraindicated; it is an optimal choice if the woman desires to use the IUCD as her ongoing form of contraception. Disadvantages include pain and bleeding and the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. The morning after pill in particular the Yuzpe regimen consists of 4 tablets of a 50 microgram combined pill containing norgestrel. 2 tablets are taken when the patient is at the clinic and a 2nd dose of 2 tablets is given 12 hours later. The treatment to be initiated within 72 hours of intercourse. The failure rate is between 2-3%. The pill may have gastrointestinal side effects. A rare but serious risk of the postcoital contraceptives is the risk of ectopic pregnancy in the case of treatment failure. They do however play an important back-up emergency treatment in cases of failures with other contraceptives or unpremeditative risk taking. Research has shown that they are free from serious side effects effective cheap and easy to administer. More research in this field is recommended.