Emergency contraception in the emergency department

Background: On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which will limit legal abortion in many areas of the U.S., making the need for effective emergency contraception even more critical.Methods: This narrative review focuses on the approach to providing safe and effective emergency contraception in the emergency department (ED) with a focus on agents that are used in the U. S.; however, many of the agents discussed are also available and utilized in other countries.Results: Emergency contraception methods included in this review are, ulipristal, levonorgestrel, combined oral contraceptive pills, and copper intrauterine devices (IUDs).Conclusion: The efficacy of products used for emergency contraception depend on patient and temporal factors. Emergency physicians must have an understanding of the optimal use of these agents to prevent unwanted preg-nancy, particularly in the setting of restricted abortion access.(c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which will restrict legal abortion in many areas of the U.S., emphasizing the importance of effective emergency contraception. Methods discussed in this review include ulipristal, levonorgestrel, combined oral contraceptive pills, and copper intrauterine devices (IUDs). Emergency physicians need to understand the optimal use of these agents to prevent unwanted pregnancy, given the restricted abortion access.