Parivar Seva's experience with emergency contraceptive pills

Abstract

Parivar Seva, an NGO working in the area of reproductive health carried out an operation research project as a feasibility study on emergency contraception recently. The study was conducted among 1120 clients coming after unprotected sexual intercourse or improper use of any contraceptive method by using emergency contraception pills coming within 3 days and IUCD coming between 3 and 5 days of unprotected sexual intercourse. It was found that failure of emergency contraception was as low as 0.6%. The success rate in term of preventing pregnancy was 99.4% both with combined oral contraception pills and laevonorgesterol. There lies the scope for introducing emergency contraception in India wide and it can occupy a unique position in a range of contraceptive choices currently available to Indian women, as it can prevent unwanted pregnancies. A coalition of 30 like minded organisations including the Parivar Seva had formed a subcommittee on emergency contraception to evolve strategies to address promotion of emergency contraception.