Summary
Emergency contraception at the Emergency Department. Experience of one year of free assistance
Affiliation of the authors
DOI
Quote
Sarrat MA, Yáñez F, Vicente A, Muñoz-Reja Castillas JS, Alcalá J, Royo R. Emergency contraception at the Emergency Department. Experience of one year of free assistance. Emergencias. 2008;20:108-12
Summary
Background: The Department of Health of Aragon has been offering free emergency
contraception (EC) since 2005.
Aims: The aim of the present study was to assess the profile of women who sought EC
during the first year of free contraception at the Emergency Service of a third level hospital
and to identify the type of variables related to the seek of EC within 24 hours after
a sexual intercourse.
Methods: One-year descriptive retrospective study which reviewed all medical records
with diagnosis of emergency contraception at the emergency department of
H.C.U. “Lozano Blesa” (Zaragoza). Clinical and epidemiological information was recorded
in a specifically devised data collection form. Data of patients who sought
EC within 24 hours after a sexual intercourse were compared with the rest of patients.
Results: The total number of pills dispensed was 1,129 with a mean of 3.09 pills dispensed
in a single day. The mean age of patients was 21 years (29% of the whole
sample was under 18 years of age). About 55% searched EC from 9:00 to 20:00 hours
(when the pill is available in outpatient services) and 68% presented to ED within 24
hours after the sexual intercourse. Women between 19 and 24 years of age sought assistance
earlier than women in other age groups. The same applied for Saturdays (in
comparison with the rest of the days of the week). Failure of barrier method was the
reason for consultation in 79%.
Conclusions: The most frequent user of this service is a 21 year-old woman who seeks
EC within 24 hours after a sexual intercourse (usually during the weekend). The rationale
for seeking EA is typically a failure in the barrier method; although the pill is available
in other external services women prefer to go to the hospital. The age of one out
of three users of this service is less than 18 years. Finally, it is important to highlight
that pills are solicited earlier during the weekend (according to the idea of time since
the sexual intercourse).
