It's a woman's right to emergency contraceptives

Emergency contraception (EC) is any method used to prevent pregnancy after sex. It is known as the morning-after pill, giving the impression it is taken the morning after unprotected sex, but EC should be taken as soon as possible after sex, up to three days.

My research, five years ago, indicated that some women were unaware that, provided they were eligible for EC, they had the right to receive it. By law, the pharmacist must interview women who visit the pharmacy for EC without a prescription. He or she must talk with the client to establish, among other facts, the following:

She doesn't want to be pregnant.

She had unprotected sex (sex without a condom or other contraceptive) or contraceptive failure (e.g. the condom broke).

The sex act in question occurred within the last three days.

She is not already pregnant (pharmacist asks about date of last period to see if client is already missing a period).

Two-pill packets

The emergency contraceptive pill consist of 0.75mg of a hormone, levonorgestrel, and each packet contains two pills which can be taken at once or the second pill can be taken 12 hours after the first.

My research, five years ago, on EC and the Jamaican women produced interesting results such as:

Most women needed EC because they did not use any contraceptive method before or during sex.

Some women used EC as their sole contraceptive method.

Many women reported that they felt embarrassed and ashamed to visit the pharmacy to ask for EC. Lack of privacy was reported at some pharmacies, and some pharmacists asked many questions. Women did not know they could ask for the pharmacist before asking for EC, which would spare them disclosure to several pharmacy personnel.

Pharmacists often refused women's requests for EC because they were not eligible.

Some EC facts

EC has an excellent safety profile. Health consequences of pregnancy are greater than any individual risk from EC use.

EC is most effective when taken immediately after sex and it is likely to work when taken up to three days after sex. It can work when taken up to five days after sex but the effectiveness then is less certain.

EC can be safely used repeatedly throughout the same menstrual cycle. However, EC is less effective than most other contraceptive methods so the likelihood of pregnancy with repeated use is high. Repeated need for EC is a sign that your approach to contraception is not working well.

EC pills will not terminate an existing pregnancy.

Since a woman can become pregnant at any point of her menstrual cycle, she should still take EC even in her 'safe' period. Better to be safe than sorry.

Dr Dahlia McDaniel is a pharmacist with a doctorate in public health. She is the chief executive officer of two pharmacies and a medical practice in Kingston; email:yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.