Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010 Jul;15(6):363-72.

Emergency contraception

[Article in English, French]
Dk Katzman, D Taddeo

Emergency contraception

[Article in English, French]
Dk Katzman et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2010 Jul.

Abstract
in English, French

Emergency contraception (EC) is an effective way to prevent an unintended or unplanned pregnancy. EC is available in two forms in Canada: a progestin-only method and a combined hormonal method, also known as the Yuzpe regimen. EC has been proven to be most effective within 72 h and up to 120 h after unprotected sexual intercourse. To date, the progestin-only method is the preferred method of EC recommended to teens because it is known for higher efficacy and fewer side effects, and is, therefore, more widely accepted over the combined method. Teens should also be counselled that the progestin-only method is widely available without a doctor's prescription across Canada.

La contraception d’urgence est un moyen efficace de prévenir une grossesse involontaire ou non planifiée. Elle est offerte sous deux formes au Canada : une méthode ne contenant que de la progestine et une méthode hormonale combinée, ou méthode Yuzpe. Il est démontré que la contraception d’urgence est plus efficace dans les 72 heures à 120 heures après des relations sexuelles non protégées. Jusqu’à présent, la méthode ne contenant que de la progestine est privilégiée auprès des adolescentes en raison de sa plus grande efficacité et de son moins grand nombre d’effets secondaires. Elle est donc plus acceptée que la méthode combinée. Les adolescentes devraient également être informées que la méthode ne contenant que de la progestine est largement offerte sans prescription médicale au Canada.

Keywords: Adolescent; Emergency contraception; Plan B; Yuzpe regimen.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

  • Emergency contraception.
    Dunn S, Guilbert É; SOCIAL SEXUAL ISSUES COMMITTEE. Dunn S, et al. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2012 Sep;34(9):870-878. doi: 10.1016/S1701-2163(16)35387-7. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2012. PMID: 22971457
  • Emergency contraception.
    Dunn S, Guilbert E, Lefebvre G, Allaire C, Arneja J, Birch C, Fortier M, Jeffrey J, Vilos G, Wagner MS, Grant L, Beaudoin F, Cherniak D, Pellizzari R, Sadownik L, Saraf-Dhar R, Turnbull V; Clinical Practice Gyneacology and Social Sexual Issues Committees, Society of Obstetricians and Gyneacologists of Canada (SOGC). Dunn S, et al. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2003 Aug;25(8):673-9, 680-7; quiz 688-90. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2003. PMID: 12908020 English, French.
  • Canadian Contraception Consensus (Part 2 of 4).
    Black A, Guilbert E; Co-Authors; Costescu D, Dunn S, Fisher W, Kives S, Mirosh M, Norman WV, Pymar H, Reid R, Roy G, Varto H, Waddington A, Wagner MS, Whelan AM; Special Contributors; Ferguson C, Fortin C, Kielly M, Mansouri S, Todd N. Black A, et al. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015 Nov;37(11):1033-9. doi: 10.1016/s1701-2163(16)30054-8. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015. PMID: 26629725 English, French.
  • Canadian Contraception Consensus (Part 1 of 4).
    Black A, Guilbert E; Co-Authors; Costescu D, Dunn S, Fisher W, Kives S, Mirosh M, Norman WV, Pymar H, Reid R, Roy G, Varto H, Waddington A, Wagner MS, Whelan AM; Special Contributors; Ferguson C, Fortin C, Kielly M, Mansouri S, Todd N; Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Black A, et al. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015 Oct;37(10):936-42. doi: 10.1016/s1701-2163(16)30033-0. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015. PMID: 26606712 English, French.
  • Emergency contraception: which is the best?
    Mittal S. Mittal S. Minerva Ginecol. 2016 Dec;68(6):687-99. Epub 2016 Apr 15. Minerva Ginecol. 2016. PMID: 27082029 Review.
See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Glasier A. Emergency postcoital contraception. N Engl J Med. 1997;337:1058–64. - PubMed
    1. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Adolescence Emergency contraception. Pediatrics. 2005;116:1026–35. - PubMed
    1. Cohall AT, Dickerson D, Vaughan R, Cohall R. Inner-city adolescents’ awareness of emergency contraception. J Am Med Womens Assoc. 1998;53:258–61. - PubMed
    1. Rodrigues I, Grou F, Joly J. Effectiveness of emergency contraceptive pills between 72 and 120 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001;184:531–7. - PubMed
    1. von Hertzen H, Piaggio G, Ding J, et al. Low-dose mifepristone and two regimens of levonorgestrel for emergency contraception: A WHO multicentre randomised trial. Lancet. 2002;360:1803–10. - PubMed