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Guidelines for
Administration of
Emergency Contraceptive
Pills for Medical Officers
3. Eligibility Criteria for ECPs
3.1 Timing in relation to the 'first act' of
unprotected sexual intercourse is critical for determining the eligibility
for use of ECP.
Indicated in all cases within 72 hours of the
'first act' of unprotected intercourse in the following situations.
I. Non-use of any contraceptive
II. Inconsistent use of contraceptive
III. Contraceptive accident due to:
 Rupture
or slippage of condoms
Failed
coitus interruptus
IUD
expulsion
Miscalculation
of safe period
Failure
to take oral pills for more than three days in a row
IV. Sexual assault
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Timing of first
act of unprotected sexual intercourse (within 72 hours) is critical in
determining eligibility for use of ECP.
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3.2 Precautions
There are no known medical conditions that are
precautions for the use of the ECP as only the small doses of the hormone is
used for single course. There are no known instructions with other drugs as
in the case of oral contraceptives.
ECPs must not be prescribed in suspected/confirmed
pregnancies. The reason is not because the ECP will cause any malformation in
the foetus, but because of its effectiveness in terminating the pregnancy.
Any client who has had the ‘first act’ of
unprotected sexual intercourse more than 72 hours ago must not prescribed
ECPs as the failure rate is very high.
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ECPs should not be advised in suspected/confirmed
pregnancies.
ECPs should not be prescribed in any client who
had the ‘first act’ of sexual intercourse more than 72 hours ago.
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