EHC prescribing falls
Prescribing of emergency hormonal
contraception is falling as more women realise that there are simpler ways of obtaining it than seeing their GPs.
The latest statistics on contraception services in England show that
the number of EHC prescriptions fell by 2 per cent between 2002–03
and 2003–04. This repeats a 2 per cent fall from the previous year.
However, national survey data show that the percentage of women obtaining
EHC from pharmacies has fallen from 33 per cent in 2002–03 to 27
per cent in 2003–04. Conversely, the percentage obtaining EHC from
walk-in centres or minor injuries units over the same two years rose
from nil to 11 per cent.
EHC guidance The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has updated its
guidance to pharmacists on selling EHC as a pharmacy medicine.
The new guidance
reflects the recent change
to the dosage used from two 750µg levonorgestrel tablets taken 12 hours
apart to a single dose of 1.5mg levonorgestrel taken within 72 hours of unprotected
sexual intercourse.
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