Allowing pharmacy sales should help reduce unwanted pregnancies

From 1 January this year pharmacists in the United Kingdom have been able to supply progestogen-only emergency contraception without a prescription. Within the next few weeks a product containing levonorgestrel 750 μg (Levonelle) will be widely available for purchase by women aged 16 and over. Direct sale through pharmacies should make access to emergency contraception easier for many women, but current NHS routes of provision of emergency contraception will still exist and remain important.

Emergency contraception is intended for use after intercourse, but before blastocyst implantation. In the United Kingdom two hormonal regimens are licensed as prescription only medicines for use within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. A combination of oestrogen and progestogen (Schering PC4, ethinylestradiol 100 μg plus levonorgestrel 500 μg repeated 12 hours later) has been available since 1984 and a progestogen-only regimen (Levonelle-2, levonorgestrel 750 μg repeated 12 hours later) since 1999. Although less effective than standard hormonal contraception used correctly, emergency contraception may be needed when routine methods have not been used or …