Does a patient who has run out of her oral contraceptive (birth control) pills and had unprotected sexual intercourse require emergency contraception, such as Plan B (levonorgestrel)?

From the Guidelines

Emergency Contraception Recommendation

Yes, the patient should consider taking emergency contraception, such as Plan B (levonorgestrel), as soon as possible 1. Since she had unprotected sexual intercourse and is past her usual birth control schedule, taking a single dose of 1.5mg levonorgestrel (Plan B) can help prevent pregnancy.

Key Considerations

• It's essential to take emergency contraception as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours of unprotected sex, for maximum effectiveness 1.
• The patient should also restart her regular birth control method as soon as possible to avoid any further gaps in contraception 1.
• If the patient has missed two or more consecutive hormonal pills, she should take the most recent missed pill as soon as possible and use backup contraception (e.g., condoms) or avoid sexual intercourse until hormonal pills have been taken for 7 consecutive days 1.
• Emergency contraception should be considered if hormonal pills were missed during the first week and unprotected sexual intercourse occurred in the previous 5 days 1.

Restarting Birth Control

The patient should restart her regular birth control method as soon as possible, taking the most recent missed pill and continuing with the remaining pills at the usual time each day 1. If she is using a combined oral contraceptive, she should omit the hormone-free interval by finishing the hormonal pills in the current pack and starting a new pack the next day if pills were missed in the last week of hormonal pills 1.

Backup Contraception

The patient should use backup contraception (e.g., condoms) or avoid sexual intercourse until her regular birth control method has been restarted for 7 consecutive days 1. This will help prevent any further gaps in contraception and reduce the risk of pregnancy.

Conclusion is not allowed, the response should be in the format of the example answer provided, the last sentence should be a statement.

The patient should follow these guidelines and consult her healthcare provider if she has any further questions or concerns about emergency contraception or restarting her birth control method 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Levonorgestrel tablet is emergency contraception that helps prevent pregnancy after birth control failure or unprotected sex. The sooner you take emergency contraception, the better it works You should use levonorgestrel tablet within 72 hours (3 days) after you have had unprotected sex. Levonorgestrel tablet is a backup or emergency method of birth control you can use when: your regular birth control was used incorrectly or failed you did not use any birth control method

Yes, a patient who has run out of her oral contraceptive (birth control) pills and had unprotected sexual intercourse may require emergency contraception, such as Plan B (levonorgestrel), if it is taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex 2.

From the Research

Emergency Contraception Requirements

• A patient who has run out of her oral contraceptive pills and had unprotected sexual intercourse may require emergency contraception, such as Plan B (levonorgestrel) 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
• The United States Food and Drug Administration-approved progestin-only dosing strategy for emergency contraception is levonorgestrel 0.75 mg taken as soon as possible within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, with a second 0.75-mg dose taken 12 hours later 3.
• A single dose of levonorgestrel 1.5 mg is also an effective option for emergency contraception, and can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse 3, 4, 6.

Effective Emergency Contraception Methods

• The copper intrauterine device is the most effective method of emergency contraception, with high efficacy and a wide treatment window 4, 5, 6, 7.
• Ulipristal acetate is also a highly effective method, with a wider treatment window of up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse 4, 5, 6.
• Levonorgestrel-containing emergency contraceptive pills are effective, but may have lower efficacy in women who weigh more than 75 kg or have a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m(2) 5.

Access to Emergency Contraception

• Education on emergency contraception should be part of any contraceptive counseling, and access to emergency contraception should be improved by providing it over the counter or in advance 6.
• Women should be advised to contact their health care providers after taking emergency contraceptive pills to discuss possible copper intrauterine device placement and other follow-up 7.