Provision of ECPs during crisis situations
During a humanitarian crisis, it is important to acknowledge that people do not refrain from having sex. Yet, couples may want to avoid pregnancy. Women and adolescent girls after natural disasters may not have access to regular family planning (FP) methods to protect against unintended pregnancies. They can be vulnerable and exposed to sexual abuse including increased risk of rape and other gender-based violence. ECPs provide women and adolescent girls with the opportunity to avoid pregnancies that are unplanned, undesired or even forced and can reduce the risk of death or illness due to complications from childbirth or unsafe abortion. For these women and adolescent girls, access to ECP is a critical need and it can be one of their choices. Access to ECPs can help these women and adolescent girls to maintain control over their fertility during these otherwise extremely difficult, unpredictable circumstances. ECPs should be offered to sexual assault survivors as part of routine post-rape care.
ECPs should be available right from the beginning of a response to humanitarian crisis as recommended by the Interagency Emergency Health Kit 2011 and Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) includes ECP as one of the minimum services to be provided.
What is ECP: ECP refers to methods of contraception that can be used to prevent pregnancy in the first few days after intercourse. It is intended for emergency use following unprotected sex, contraceptive failure or misuse, rape or coerced sex.
When to use: ECP are indicated to prevent pregnancy after unprotected or inadequately protected sex and survivors of sexual assault within 5 days, ideally as soon as possible, to maximize effectiveness.
How ECP works: The primary mechanism of ECP is to delay or prevent ovulation. They may also work to prevent fertilization of an ovum by affecting the cervical mucus or the ability of sperm to bind to the ovum. No evidence supports the theory that ECP interferes with the implantation of a fertilized egg. ECP do not cause abortion of an existing pregnancy.
ECP efficacy: If all 100 women used progestin-only emergency contraception, one would likely become pregnant.
Safety: ECPs have no known serious medical complications.
ECP regimens: In Nepal, only progesterone containing ECP is available or marketed. They are either in one tablet formulation (levonorgestrel 1.5 mg) or in two tablet formulation (levonorgestrel 0.75 mg). It should be taken within 5 days (120 hours) or as soon as possible after the unprotected sex act. If levonorgestrel containing ECP is NOT available, the combined ordinary oestrogen–progestogen pill may be offered (4 tablets two times within 12 hours apart) as emergency contraception. Levonorgestrel ECPs are available over-the- counter in Nepal. However, ECPs are still not available in public sector program in Nepal.
Precautions and contraindications: ECPs have no known medical contraindications.
Clinical screening: There is no need of any medical examinations or laboratory tests before taking ECPs.
ECP use after more than one sex act: ECPs must be taken after each unprotected sex act; do not wait until a series of acts has occurred. Use only one ECP treatment at a time.
Repeated ECP use: ECPs may be used deliberately as often as needed. However, frequent use of ECPs as a regular and routine contraceptive method is not recommended because other more effective and safer FP methods exist for this purpose.
Follow-up after ECP use: No scheduled follow-up is required after ECP use. Provide her information that if a client does not have a menstrual period by 3 weeks after taking ECPs, consider that she may be pregnant and advise/refer her for subsequent care.
Starting or resuming regular contraceptives after ECP use: ECPs are not designed to provide contraceptive protection at regular sex acts that occur in the future. Using a regular contraceptive after taking ECP is CRITICAL to minimizing a woman’s pregnancy risk. Start hormonal methods (oral contraceptives, injectables, and implants) either immediately or after next menstrual period; if a woman wants to wait, use a barrier method such as condoms in the interim period. Copper bearing IUCD can also be highly effective emergency contraception, so a woman does not need oral ECPs if she accepts IUCD within 5 days after sex.