Emergency Contraception: Overview, Drugs Used, Methods & PYQs

Emergency contraception refers to the use of contraceptive methods to prevent unintended pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. It is an important aspect of reproductive health care, as unintended pregnancies can have significant physical, emotional, and social consequences.

In the NEET PG exam, questions related to emergency contraception may test your knowledge of the different types of emergency contraception, their mechanisms of action, effectiveness, side effects, and contraindications. You may also be asked to identify appropriate candidates for emergency contraception, counsel patients on its use, and manage potential complications. 

Read this blog further to learn more about this important OBGYN topic for NEET PG exam preparations.

Overview

• Contraception given to prevent pregnancy, within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. 
• Abortion is not a method of emergency contraception

Important Information

• FSH → Estrogen
• LH → Progesterone

Combined oral contraceptive pills (COCs): Estrogen + Progesterone

↓

Negative feedback to pituitary (no FSH and LH to act on ovary)

↓

Suppresses Estrogen +Progesterone formation by ovary

• COCP causes artificial menstruation in the female. 
  • Cycles are regular, anovulatory 
  • Dose of Estrogen is low in COC (Max - 0.03 mg), so it 
    • Reduces bleeding 
    • Control anemia 
    • Since Estrogen is less: Ovarian cancers, endometrial cancers, endometriosis and fibroids are less 

Drugs for Emergency Contraception

• Levonorgestrel (LNG): 0.75mgx2 tablets (12 hours apart) now replaced by 1.5 mgx1 Tab
  • DOC
  • MOA
    • ↓Implantation by making endometrium too fluffy
    • ↓Tubal motility 
    • ↓Ovulation (by suppressing LH surge) 
• COCP: Yuzpee regimen (outdated) -2 Tab (morning 100ug estrogen) and 2 Tab (evening 100ug) 
  • MOA
    • ↓ ovulation 
    • ↓ Implantation 
• Mifepristone: RU 486 
  • Dose: 25-50 mg
  • Antiprogestin
  • ↓ Implantation 
• IUCD 
  • Effective upto 5 days of unprotected intercourse
  • Most effective method (but not DOC) 

Important Information

• Drugs of emergency contraception are not prescription drugs, these are Over the Counter drug
• Ulipristal acetate 
  • Selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM) 
  • ELLA 30mg
  • Equally effective upto 5 days of unprotected intercourse.

Also Read: Amenorrhea: Primary and Secondary

Previous Year Questions

Q. Which of the following is not used as an emergency contraception?       (NEET Jan 2020)

A. Danazol

B. Copper T

C. RU 486

D. High dose estrogen

Contraception

IUCD

• 1^st generation: Lippes loop (foreign body action) 
• 2^nd generation: Act by causing aseptic inflammation, spermatotoxic action of copper, foreign body action
  • Cu7, Cu 380 Au / Ag (380: Surface area of cu in mm2 on device): Effective for 5 years
  • Paragard: Effective upto 10 years 
• 3^rd generation: Progesterone containing devices 
  • Progestasert: 38 mg, releasing 65 mcg / day 
  • LNG devices (MIRENA): 52 mg, releasing 20 mcg / day 
  • Also used for management of 
    • Menorrhagia
    • Endometriosis
    • Endometrial hyperplasia 

MOA of IUCD

• Foreign body action
• Endometrium non receptive     
• ↓↓ Ovulation 

Important Information

• Progestasert is having another action: Act by thickening of cervical mucous (main action); LNG also makes cervical mucosa thick but main action is making endometrium non - receptive

Also Read: Endometrial Carcinoma (Endometrial Hyperplasia's, Staging Of Ca Endometrium)

Side Effects of IUCD 

• M/C: Bleeding (3 x) > Pain
• Perforation at insertion 

Important Information

• For first three months: For bleeding after IUCD we give prophylactically NSAIDS and Tranexamic acid to some patients

Pregnancy with IUCD in situ

• Management 
  • If patient wants to abort: MTP
  • If patient wants to continue: Remove IUCD; if thread is not visible then explain that there are 50 % chances of abortion 

Important Information

• Overall chances of ectopic pregnancy are slightly more with patient having IUCD as compared to normal women having pregnancy

Lost IUCD

• First step: Exploration in OPD with artery forceps
• If not found then do USG and locate device

↓ if not found 

Radiography (X - ray): Rule out pregnancy first beforehand

• In lateral view if the Uterine sound and copper device are in same plane: Copper T is inside. 

Also Read: Molar Pregnancy and Gestational Trophoblastic Disease - NEET PG OBGYN

Sterilization

Vasectomy

• Failure rate < 0.1 %
• Non scalpel vasectomy: Done by artery forceps under local anesthesia
• Avoid intercourse without condoms / barriers for 3 months or till 30 ejaculations.
• After 3 months: Semen analysis is done to see Azoospermia.
• Reversibility is only 30-35 % successful (Vaso vasal reanastomosis) 

Tubectomy 

• Puerperal Tubectomy 
  • Within first 7-10 days (best done 2-3 days from delivery) 
  • Done by open technique: Mini laparotomy (1.5-2 inches incision) 
• Interval sterilization: After 6 weeks; mostly done by laparoscopy
• Concurrent sterilization: Done along with another surgery (LSCS + T/L, MTP + T/L)
• Site of ligation: Isthmus
• Reanastomosis of Tubectomy (reversibility) 
  • Isthmo isthmic reanastomosis: Upto 80 % successful (uniform cut ends)
  • Isthmo-Ampullary Reanastomosis: 30 % successful 
• M/C method for tubectomy: Modified Pomeroy's method: Risk of spontaneous Reanastomosis

• Other methods 
  • Parkland’s Technique

• • Irwing surgery Technique: We cut the tube and bury into uterus and the other end buried into mesosalpinx; failure rate is very less

• • Kroners: Fimbriectomy; not done nowadays
  • Madlener’s method: Only crushing of tube done; no cutting, so high failure rate, so not done.
  • Essure ring 
    • Hysteroscopic procedure; putting of Nitinol (Nickel + Titanium) coil into tube; causes fibrosis of the interstitial part of tube within 3 months.
    • Hysterosalpingography is done after 3 months to confirm the fibrosis

Also Read : Genital Warts: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment and Complications

Failure Rates Of Contraceptives

• Failure rate of contraception drugs is calculated by PEARL INDEX (total number of accidental pregnancies/ total months of exposure) x 1200 
• Rates of failures
  • Vasectomy: 0.1%
  • Tubectomy: 0.2%
  • IUCD: 0.5-0.6% (copper devices); 0.2% (Levonorgestrel)
  • Combined OCPs: 0.6-0.7%
  • Progesterone Only pill: 1 -2%. 
  • Barrier methods (male): 14 -20 % 
  • Natural method: Worst 
  • Implants like Norplant, implanon: 0.05% 

Progesterone Implants 

• Norplant: 6 stems (36 mg each =216 mg of LNG); Applied as subdermal implant over the arm; effective till 5 yrs. 
• Norplant-2 / JADELLE: 75mg x2 = 150 mg of LNG (2 stems); effective for 5 years
• Etonorgestrel implants: Synthetic / degradation product of desogestrel and extremely effective 
  • Implanon: 68 mg single stem effective till 3 years; withdrawn in most countries
  • Nexplanon: Ba coated; radiopaque implant so easy to locate & remove later on

COCPs

• E + P ? inhibits FSH and LH from pituitary 

↓

Ovary suppressed 

• Estrogen causes proliferation of uterus 
• Progesterone cause secretion of endometrium 
• So, women will have artificial periods 
• Women do not ovulate & do not conceive 
• MALA - D, MALA - N 
  • Estrogen: 0.03 mg (30 µg) 
  • Progesterone: 0.15 mg (150ug) 

Also Read: How to Prepare Gynaecology and Obstetrics for Medical PG Entrance exams?

Natural Methods Of Contraception

• Failures 60 / 100 WY 

Calendar/ Rhythm/ safe period or fertile period method 

• From 11 -16th day: High chance of conception as on 14th day ovulation occurs 
• So, avoid sex in this period

Cervical mucus method 

• Watery mucus occurs during ovulation period 
• Causes wetness in vagina
• Avoid intercourse in this period 
• Known as Billing's method 

Also Read: Spontaneous and Induced Abortions - NEET PG OBGYN

Endometriosis and Adenomyosis - NEET PG

Vaginal Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Types, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Complications

Withdrawal method 

Basal body temp

• Increases during ovulation, progesterone is a thermogenic hormone

Previous Year Questions

Q. A woman with an IUCD came to OPD for removal but the Gynecologist could not remove the IUCD as there was no thread visible to pull on. To locate the lUCD an Ultrasound was done. The IUCD was seen besides the ovary. How would one remove this IUCD? (FMGE June 2021)

A. Hysteroscopy

B. USG guided removal by an IUCD hook

C. Laparoscopy

D. Laparotomy

Q. The oral contraceptive pill 'Mala N' contains which of the following type of progesterone component? (JIPMER Dec 2019)

A. Levonorgestrel

B. Etonorgestrel

C. Desogestrel

D. Drospirenone

Q. Which of the following is not a mechanism of action for oral contraceptive pills? (AIIMS 2020)

A. Prevents ovulation

B. Prevents Implantation

C. Thickens Cervical mucus

D. Increases gonadotropin secretion

To study this topic in detail, download the PrepLadder app and find in-depth video lectures by India’s top OBGYN faculty. 

Also Read: Important Topics in OBGYN for NEET-PG by Dr. Prassan Vij