Letter

Clear facts for the morning after

Dear healthmatters—Emergency contraception remains an issue fraught with conflict and controversy. Patients are unsure of the correct timing of treatment (within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse), the options available (intrauterine device or hormonal pills), how to take the pills and, most importantly, where to obtain the treatment.

Many young women wait for hours at their local accident and emergency department, only to be turned away. Isn’t it time that we provided women with the basic information they need?

In brief, emergency contraception is available from family planning clinics, GPs, Brook Advisory Centres, young persons’ clinics, and some A&E departemtns and genitourinary medicine clinics.

Consistent management across the country would save many women from inconvenience, embarrassment and confusion. After all, some doctors will prescribe the morning after pill while others won’t, and some A&E departments will offer this service, while others won’t.

Perhaps involving the media in a Tampon-type commercial, along with the essential information regularly included in women’s magazines would be a good way forward.