Febbraio 2009 - Volume XXVIII - numero 2
Farmacoriflessioni
1SOC Medicina Legale, ASL VCO
2SOC Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Ospedale Castelli, Verbania ASL VCO
3Consultori Familiari, ASL VCO
4Responsabile Coordinamento Regionale dei Consultori Familiari
5Direzione Generale, ASL VCO
6SOC Pediatria, Ospedale Castelli, Verbania ASL VCO - Regione Piemonte
Indirizzo per corrispondenza: pediatria.borgosesia@asl11.piemonte.it
Key words: Day-after pill, Emergency contraception, Levonorgestrel, Adolescent
The term emergency contraception refers to the contraceptive methods that can be used to prevent pregnancy in case of unprotected sex or if the birth control used fails. The WHO recommends levonorgestrel in a single dose of 1.5 mg per os. Ideally, “the day after pill” should be taken as soon as possible after the unprotected intercourse, preferably within 12- 24 hours and not later than 72 hours after the intercourse, but its residual effect can last for up to 120 hours; it is 88% effective in preventing pregnancy. To prescribe “the day-after pill” it is not necessary to be a specialist; any practitioner can prescribe it, since the only indication is the unprotected intercourse. If the doctor refuses to prescribe the medicine using the conscience clause, he must send the woman to another place where it can be prescribed (article 22 of the deontological code) and the procedure must be recorded. A specific law that allows to prescribe the drug to a minor does not exist, but the permission can be gathered from a series of provisions, resolutions, declarations and law articles that actually permit to prescribe levonorgestrel to minors. The essential requirement is that the girl is able to give a valid consent, after having been adequately informed.
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Farmacoriflessioni
Pediatra di famiglia, Massarosa (Lucca)
Indirizzo per corrispondenza: stefano@castelli01.191.it
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