Emergency contraception--clinical and ethical aspects

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Emergency contraception (EC) is crucial for preventing pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.
• Available EC options include levonorgestrel (LNG) alone or in combination with ethinylestradiol.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the efficacy and mechanism of action of emergency contraception.
• To address ethical considerations regarding EC access and its purported effects on implantation.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical studies on levonorgestrel-based emergency contraception.
• Analysis of scientific evidence regarding EC's mechanism of action.

Main Results:

• Levonorgestrel (LNG) alone is more effective and better tolerated than combined formulations.
• EC's effectiveness diminishes with time after intercourse.
• Scientific evidence indicates EC primarily acts before fertilization, not by preventing implantation.

Conclusions:

• EC, particularly LNG, is a safe and effective method to reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions.
• Obstacles to EC access are unethical and violate fundamental ethical principles.
• EC does not induce abortions; it prevents them by reducing pregnancy incidence.