性交後避孕
那些在發生性交時沒有使用任何避孕手段而又不想要孩子的女性，或察覺自己的避孕會失敗的婦女，仍能夠採用“性交後避孕”方法。這就意味著既可以迅速地選用銅離子緩釋宮內避孕器(IUD)，也可以儘快服用緊急避孕藥(emergency contraception pills
，ECPs)。緊急避孕藥也稱為事後避孕藥。其實，這個通俗的名稱非常容易讓人誤解，因為，性交後有5天的時間讓這個女子採取避孕措施，也就是說，比次日“早晨後”有更多的寬限期。不過，越早採取措施就越有效。尤其對於強姦或亂倫中的受害者來說，這種“緊急避孕”是避免意外懷孕的最好方式，不然可能在後來則得施行流產手術。可是，緊急避孕防止不了宮外孕。
緊急避孕藥（含高劑量的雌激素和/或孕激素）在市場上的成品各種各樣，名稱各異，必須在性交後3日或5日內服用，分兩劑口服，間隔12個小時。這將防止受精卵在子宮壁的植入。這種避孕藥在許多國家勿需處方便可選用，但決不是在所有的國家都是非處方藥。無論如何，有越來越多來自各界的輿論壓力，要求在每一個地方都要廢止需要處方才能夠取藥的規定。可是，與此同時，一些女性經常地服用緊急避孕藥，把它作為性交後的避孕手段。依據特定的品牌而異，首次劑量需要吞服2-5粒，12小時後再服一劑。可是，即便是這樣，專家的諮詢還是必需的，請他們準確地決定每一個牌子的緊急避孕藥應該一次服用多少粒，不然，要麼會避孕失敗，要麼它們的副作用會很大。甚至沒有服藥禁忌症，也可能會有令人非常厭煩的一過性副作用，象噁心和嘔吐等。其他方面，也有併發症的病例報導。不管怎樣，許多女性寧願忍受這些副作用，而不願為非意願妊娠擔驚受怕。需要強調的是，顯然，既不能把這種高劑量的緊急避孕藥也不該把緊急放置宮內避孕器作為經常性的避孕方式。此外，頻繁地服用緊急避孕藥會導致月經不規則和難以預料（的後果）。
避孕效果：相當有效。 |
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Contraception |
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Methods
of Contraception: Contraceptive
Methods for Women
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Post-coital Contraception
A woman who does not want a child, but has engaged in coitus without using any contraceptive method, or who knows that her method has failed, can still use “post-coital contraception”. This means either the prompt
insertion of a copper-releasing IUD or taking
emergency contraception pills (ECPs), the so-called morning-after pills. Actually, this popular term is quite misleading, since the woman has about 5 days after coitus in which to act, i.e. more time than just a “morning after”. Nevertheless, the sooner she acts, the better. Especially in cases of rape or incest, this “emergency contraception” is the best way to avoid pregnancy and thus, perhaps later, an abortion. However, emergency contraception does not necessarily prevent an ectopic pregnancy.
The pills (high dosages of estrogen and/or progestin) are marketed under various brand names and
must be taken within three to five days after coitus. They are taken in two doses, 12 hours apart. This will prevent any fertilized egg from being implanted in the uterine wall. The pills are available without prescription in a number of countries, but by no means in all. However, there is growing pressure from many sides to abolish the need for a prescription everywhere. Indeed, in the meantime, some women have used regular contraceptive pills for post-coital contraception. Depending on the particular brand, they swallowed 2-5 of these pills in a single first dose and, 12 hours later, again in a second dose. However, in cases like these, expert advice is necessary to determine exactly how many pills of which brand should be taken in each dose, otherwise they may not work and/or their side effects could be severe. Even where there are no medical objections, there may be very unpleasant temporary side effects, such as nausea and vomiting. In some cases, other after-effects have been reported. However, many women would rather endure those than the worry about an unwanted pregnancy. Still, it is obvious that
neither these high-dosage pills nor emergency IUD insertions can be used as regular means of contraception. Besides, a frequent use of the pills will cause a woman’s menstrual periods to become irregular and unpredictable.
Effectiveness: fairly effective |
