NICE Recommends IUD for Emergency Contraception

The UK’s price watchdog says women should be advised that a copper intrauterine device is more effective than the morning-after pill for emergency contraception.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said the IUD, or coil, can be used as an emergency method of contraception for up to five days after unprotected sex.

NICE said that in 2014, 95 percent of emergency contraception issued by reproductive health services was for the morning-after pill.

In response, the agency developed a new quality standard that sets out key areas where advice to women on contraception needs to improve.

“We know that the coil is the most effective method of emergency contraception available, so we must all continue to ensure that ease of access to this method is increased and maintained across services from a variety of providers,” said Sue Burchill, head of nursing at Brook, a UK provider of sexual health services for young people.

“The advantage of the coil, on top of being more effective, is that it can be retained as long-term contraception. Some can even be left in place for 10 years,” said Jan Wake, a general practitioner and member of the guideline development group.

The quality standard includes advice on contraceptive information and methods, emergency contraception, contraception after abortion and contraception after childbirth.

Read the quality standard here: www.fdanews.com/09-15-16-NICE.pdf. — Tamra Sami