Page 50 - Health, Population and Environment Education 10

Disadvantages
It is expensive.
It is not easily available in the market.

It can be used only once.
It should not be used together with male condom.

Emergency Contraceptive Method and Its Use

Every time people may not want to bear a child after sexual
intercourse. Generally, when people have unprotected
sexual intercourse, they do not desire to bear unwanted
pregnancy. Most of the unwanted pregnancies by unsafe
sexual intercourse lead to unsafe abortion. This has
serious health impacts on females and sometimes death
of females may occur. Females must adopt emergency
contraceptive method during emergency condition Fig: 33
especially during unprotected sexual intercourse.
The method adopted in unprotected sexual relationship so as to avoid fertilization between
sperm and ovum is called as emergency contraceptive method. In this method, emergency
contraceptive pills and IUCDs are used. This method should be adopted only during
emergency condition and should not be used regularly as other contraceptive method.

Situation in which emergency contraceptive method is used:

i. When there is sexual relationship without using any contraceptive devices.
ii. When the condom ruptures or tears.
iii. When a female forgets to take oral pills, regularly for 2 days.
iv. When IUCD or copper T comes out itself or diaphragm moves.

v. When people are not sure about effectiveness of natural contraceptive method.
vi. When there is raping of a female.

Precautions to be considered before using emergency contraceptive method

i. A pregnant woman should not use any kind of contraceptive devices.
ii. It should not be used by females suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes, heart
disease, cancer, chronic allergies, edema (swelling of limbs), etc. Females should have
health check up before using emergency contraceptive method.

Use of Emergency Contraceptive Methods
The oral pills containing more concentration of oestrogen and progesterone hormones as
well as IUCDs are used as emergency contraceptive devices. The following devices are
used as emergency contraceptive devices.
50 GREEN Health, Population and Environment Education Book-10