Emergency Contraceptive Pills, ECPs (also called postcoital pills or morning after pills)
are taken to prevent pregnancy after a woman has had unprotected sex, in cases of
contraceptive failure or misuse and also in cases of sexual assault (American College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) recommendations). There are three (3) types
of ECPs: Progestin-only pills, Combination pills and Ulipristal. The recommended type
however, is the progestin only pills and specifically the Levonorgestrel containing pill.
The recommendation is that it should be taken as a single dose of 1.5mg within 5days
(120 hours) of unprotected sex although it can also be taken in 2 divided doses 12 hours
apart (WHO, 2012).