EMA recommends double dose of LNG EC when used with enzyme-inducers

On May 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the use of a non-hormonal emergency contraceptive (EC) when a woman in need of EC is using other interacting medicines (such as the HIV medicine efavirenz and ritonavir, certain medicines for tuberculosis and epilepsy, and herbal medicines containing St John’s wort). If using a cooper IUD…

New study looks into EC status in Europe one year after the UPA switch

A study published in March 2016 by researchers from the Department of International Health of Maastricht University, assesses the status of EC pills in European Union and associated countries a year after UPA was allowed for sale without prescription, and also looks into the impact of this switch on EC pills sales. Status of Emergency Contraceptives in Europe One Year…

In Malta: women´s groups demand access to EC

In June 2016, the Maltese NGO Women’s Rights Foundation (WRF) filed a judicial protest on behalf of 102 women, requesting that emergency contraception is licensed, available, and accessible locally. The Minister of Health announced that the issue will be discussed at the Parliament Social Affairs committee in the coming months. Despite being a member of the European Union,…

UPA ECPs mandatory dispensing protocol in Croatia cancelled

As of June 2016, the mandatory dispensing protocol for UPA EC pills in Croatia has been cancelled. The dispensing protocol was developed by the Croatian Pharmacy Chamber, and its mandatory status was imposed by the Minister of Health in April 2015 following the European Medicine Agency’s (EMA) recommendation to sell UPA EC without a prescription….

US FDA announcement on LNG EC efficacy and weight

On May 24, 2016, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced completion of a review of the existing data related to the efficacy of EC and body weight, concluding that the data do not warrant a change to product labels: “The FDA has completed a review of available scientific data concerning the effectiveness of levonorgestrel (LNG)…

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The EC wheel: now available on-line and in French

 “Emergency contraception methods” (the EC wheel), a counselling tool for pharmacists and health providers published in May 2016 by ECEC, is now available in French,  and can be used from tablets, cellphones and computers (on and off line). This tool is inspired in the WHO Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (MEC) wheel, and based on the…

In the UK, BPAS launches campaign to reduce the cost of EC pills

The UK organisation BPAS, launched a campaign that calls on pharmacies to reduce the cost of EC pills. As stated in ECEC´s last update on access to EC in Europe, the prices for both LNG and UPA EC pills when procured directly at the pharmacy in certain regions of the United Kingdom and in Ireland, are the higher in…

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Recommendations for quickstarting hormonal contraception after UPA EC

Over the past year, there have been discussions around whether hormonal contraception should be resumed immediately after the intake of UPA EC. The concern is that using a progestin-containing contraceptive could counteract the effects of UPA EC. UPA is an anti-progestin that works by delaying or inhibiting ovulation; if a progestin-containing contraceptive is administered at the…

New EC guidelines in Croatia

Following three months of public debate, in September 2015, the Croatian Society of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Human Reproduction (HDGEHR), the Croatian Society of Gynecology (HDGO), and the Gynecology Primary Practice Section of the Croatian Medical Association issued national guidelines on oral emergency contraception. To read the full guidelines in Croatian, please click here. This document…

New training module on emergency contraceptive pills

A new training module on emergency contraceptive pills is now available, in two adaptations: For clinical health care providers: www.fptraining.org/projects/emergency-contraceptive-pills-ecp For pharmacists: www.fptraining.org/projects/emergency-contraceptive-pills-ecps-training-pharmacists These modules are part of the Training Resource Package for Family Planning (TRP), a comprehensive set of materials designed to support up-to-date training on family planning and reproductive health. The TRP contains…