Emergency contraception (EC) can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. Currently three main methods of EC are available in Australia: Ulipristal Acetate pill, 1.5mg Levonorgestrel pill, and the Copper Intrauterine Device (Cu-IUD). The Cu-IUD is the most effective EC, and is also the only form of EC to provide ongoing, effective reversible contraception. However, it is the least frequently used method of EC.
There is little published data regarding the uptake of the Cu-IUD as EC in the Australian setting. A study is being undertaken by Family Planning NSW to explore the barriers and enablers of the Cu-IUD as EC from both client and clinician perspectives in order to investigate the factors contributing to the low uptake of this method of EC.
(This research project has been approved by the Family Planning NSW Ethics Committee; approval number R2018-04)