**Author details**

Emergency contraception is the use of a drug or device to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. The indications for its use include contraceptive failure (condom broke, pills forgotten), error in withdrawal or periodic abstinence, any unintended 'sperm exposure'. Pregnancy is a contraindication for the use of emergency contraception [15–18].

Postcoital emergency contraception includes emergency contraceptive pills, containing estrogenic and progestin. It consists of two pills, and each contains 100 mcg of ethinylestradiol and 0.5 mg of levonorgestrel, ingested 12 h apart for a total of four pills. The first dose should be taken within the first 72 h after unprotected intercourse, or RU 486 (mifepristone) 50 mg single dose up to 96 h following unprotected coitus. Side effects include nausea, vomiting,

Progestin-only postcoital emergency contraception treatment schedule comprises 1 dose of 750 mcg levonorgestrel taken as soon as possible and no later than 48 h after unprotected intercourse, and a second dose taken 12 h later. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, breast tenderness, abdominal pain, and dizziness. Hormonal postcoital emergency con-

The Copper T380 IUD can be inserted as many as 7 days after unprotected sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. Insertion of an IUCD is significantly more effective than other regimens, reducing the risk of pregnancy following unprotected intercourse by more than

For permanent contraception, tubal ligation is chosen by about 30% of women in developing countries, and about 10% of men undergo vasectomy. The mechanism of action of fallopian tube sterilisation is by cutting or mechanically blocking them to prevent the sperm and ovum from uniting. Can be performed laparoscopically or through a suprapubic 'mini-laparotomy'

Tubal sterilisation is permanent, highly effective, safe, with quick recovery, lacks significant long-term side effects, cost effective, partner cooperation not required, and is not coituslinked. Disadvantages include the need for general or regional anaesthesia, possibility of patient regret, difficult to reverse, future pregnancy could require assisted reproductive technology (such as *in vitro* fertilisation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection), and is more expen-

At vasectomy, each vas deferens is cut to prevent the passage of sperm into the ejaculated seminal fluid. The failure rate is about 0.1%. Vasectomy is permanent, highly effective, safe, with quick recovery, lacks significant long-term side effects, cost effective, less expensive than tubal ligation, no partner cooperation needed, with removal of contraceptive burden from the woman. Disadvantages include the fact that reversal is difficult, expensive, often is unsuccessful. In addition, patients may regret decision, not effective until all sperm cleared from the

For reporting the effectiveness of a birth control method, the Pearl's index is the most common technique used in clinical trials. It is the number of pregnancies occurring in 100 females

headache, breast tenderness, abdominal pain, and dizziness [15–18].

incision, or at caesarean section. The failure rate is 0.1% [1–3].

tract, with no protection from sexually transmitted infections [2, 3].

using a certain contraception method for 1 year [3].

traception is about 90% effective [15–18].

99% [1–3].

10 Family Planning

sive than vasectomy [1–3].

#### Zouhair Amarin

Address all correspondence to: zoamarin@hotmail.com

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
