What You Need to Know About and IUCD 380-A Emergency Contraception

Family Planning DivisionMinistry of Health and Family Welfare

Government of India

What is the new Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device(IUCD) 380-A?

• It is a very effective long acting family planning method

• It is a small device made of plastic and copper that is inserted in

the uterus.

What is the new Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device(IUCD) 380-A?

Who should use IUCD 380-A?

Who should use IUCD 380-A?

• Can be used by all women in the child bearing age group for

spacing births.

• Those women who have had a caesarean section birth

• Women who do not wish to undergo sterilisation but want an

effective long-term contraceptive method

• It can also be used as an emergency contraception if inserted

within 5 days of an unprotected intercourse.

Can IUCD be used as an emergency contraceptive?

• Yes, It is more effective than EC pills in preventing pregnancy

• It should be inserted within 5 days of unprotected intercourse

• It is effective even in situation of multiple episodes of

unprotected sexual intercourse.

Can IUCD be used as an emergency contraceptive?

When should IUCD 380-A be inserted?

• Anytime during the menstrual cycle after reasonably excluding

pregnancy

• Six weeks after delivery

• Immediately after MTP/abortion

• Immediately or within 48 hours of delivery (by a provider who

is trained in inserting IUCD during this period).

When should IUCD 380-A be inserted?

Uterus

IUCD in the Uterus

How does IUCD 380-A work?

How does IUCD 380-A work?

• It prevents sperm and egg from meeting

• Prevents implantation of fertilized egg in uterine cavity.

Uterus

IUCD in the Uterus

What are the advantages of IUCD 380-A?

• It provides long-term (10 years) highly effective and reversible

protection against pregnancy

• Does not require daily attention from the user or special

attention before sexual intercourse

• Is effective immediately after insertion

• Can be used by lactating women

• Once removed there is immediate return to fertility

• Does not have hormonal side-effects or interact with any

medicines that you may be taking

• An effective long-term contraceptive method for couples who

do not wish to undergo

sterilisation.

What are the advantages of IUCD 380-A?

Are there any side-effects ofIUCD 380-A use?

• You may experience bleeding or spotting immediately after

insertion. This is not menstrual bleeding. You can perform all

household chores

• There may be increase in the duration/amount of menstrual

bleeding or spotting in between the first few menstrual cycles

• Discomfort or cramps after IUCD insertion for the next few

days.

Side-effects are only temporary and subside in due course of time.

Are there any side-effects ofIUCD 380-A use?

What are the common myths about IUCD?

?

What are the common myths about IUCD?

There are some common myths associated with use of IUCD which

are baseless and false.

Myths Wrong

IUCD causes weight gain x

IUCD causes infertility x

IUCD can leave the uterus and travel to distant parts of the body x

IUCD cannot be used by women who have had a caesarean section x

IUCD increases risk of infection x

IUCDs cause discomfort during sex for both the woman and her husband x

IUCD increases the risk of pregnancy outside uterus (Ectopic pregnancy) x

?

What are Emergency ContraceptivePills?

What are Emergency ContraceptivePills?

• Emergency contraception (EC) is a method that helps women

to prevent unwanted pregnancy from unprotected intercourse

• Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) and IUCD can be used as

emergency contraceptive methods

• ECPs are hormonal oral contraceptive pills and must be used

within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected intercourse

• If IUCD is used as an emergency contraception, it should be

inserted within 5 days of unprotected intercourse and can be

continued as a long-term

method

How does ECP work?

How does ECP work?

• Depending on when you use ECPs during your monthly cycle,

the pills will either stop the release of an egg, prevent

fertilization of an egg, or prevent transport of the sperm and

ovum.

Does ECP cause abortion?

Does ECP cause abortion?

• No, it does not cause abortion

• ECP is not effective once the fertilized egg is attached to the

uterus.

When should you use ECP?

When should you use ECP?

• ECP should be used ONLY in emergency situations after couple

have taken all precautions to prevent conception like condom

burst or slippage during sexual intercourse

• ECP can also be used in rare situations like:

• Failure to take oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for 2 or

more consecutive days

• Delay of more than 14 days in taking a contraceptive

injection (DMPA or Net-en) and more than 7 days in cases

of Cyclofem injections

• In case of forced sex or rape

• Failure to withdraw penis from vagina before ejaculation

or ejaculation occurs inside the vagina

• Miscalculation of the fertile period.

72 HOURS

How should you use ECP?

How should you use ECP?

• ECPs must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse

• After taking ECPs, if menstruation gets delayed by more than

one week from the expected date, go for a medical

opinion/pregnancy test.

Dosage of ECP: Single dose of 1.5 mg of Levonorgestrol to be taken

within 72 hours of unprotected sex (one tablet of 1.5 mg or 2 tablets

of 0.75mg)

72 HOURS

Does ECP cause any side-effects?

• ECPs may cause temporary side-effects such as nausea,

vomiting, headache, dizziness, fatigue, and breast tenderness

• These side-effects generally do not last more than 24 hours.

Does ECP cause any side-effects?

Are ECPs safe?

Are ECPs safe?

ECPs are safe only as an "emergency measure"

• For all women

• Women who are advised not to use OC pills

• Breastfeeding women.

How effective are ECPs?

How effective are ECPs?

• ECPs taken within 72 hours of unprotected vaginal intercourse

are 85% effective and fails in approximately 15 out of 100

women who have correctly taken ECP

• ECP are more effective if taken within 12 to 24 hours of

unprotected intercourse

• Any delay in taking the pills decreases the efficacy of ECP, that

is why ECP should be used only in emergency situations and not

as a regular contraceptive.

How will I return to my regular familyplanning method after using ECP?

• Condom can be used immediately after using ECPs

• OCP users should start a new packet of OCP from the beginning

of the first day of next menstrual period. Meanwhile, they

should use condoms for the rest of this menstrual cycle

• Injectable contraceptives can be initiated within 7 days of

beginning the next menstrual period. Condom should be used

during remaining period of current cycle

• If there is a delay in menstruation of more than one week,

women should contact the health care provider/take a

pregnancy test for excluding pregnancy.

How will I return to my regular familyplanning method after using ECP?

Remember!

Remember!

• ECP is NOT a regular family planning method. It is only for

emergency situations

• It gives women a second chance to prevent an unwanted

pregnancy from unprotected intercourse

• Consult a health care provider immediately after first use

• ECPs should be used within 72 hours of unprotected

intercourse

• ECPs cannot cause abortion

• Repeated use of EC pills decrease the effectiveness of the pill,

increases side-effects as the amount of hormones consumed

would be much higher than the regular

oral hormonal pills

• Hence, ECPs are not a substitute for

regular contraception.

Family Planning DivisionMinistry of Health and Family Welfare

Government of India