Myths and misconceptions about emergency contraception pills

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Mitovi i zablude o hitnoj oralnoj kontracepciji
• Author: Paula Pavlek
• Mentor: Dinka Pavičić Baldani (mentor)
• Committee member: Dinka Pavičić Baldani (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marina Šprem Goldštajn (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Lana Škrgatić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2020-07-17, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Gynecology and Obstetrics

Abstract

Emergency contraception is a method of contraception used after sexual intercourse. It is used in case of unprotected sexual intercourse, in case of improper use or accident with an already existing method of contraception (condom slippage/rupture, diaphragm displacement, forgotten oral contraception) or in the case of sexual abuse. This method of contraception has been proven to be very effective in preventing unwanted and unplanned pregnancies that are still present in large number in today’s world and mainly end in abortion. The Yuzpe method is the first developed method of emergency oral contraception. Today, in most countries, it has been replaced by more effective methods that have less frequent and milder side effects. These methods include levonorgestrel emergency contraception pill and ulipristal acetate emergency contraception pill. The main mechanism of action of emergency contraception pills is delay of ovulation. If ovulation has already occurred, the methods are not effective and have no effect on an existing pregnancy. With the introduction of emergency contraception pill, many myths and misconceptions related to it have emerged. One of the leading myths is that emergency contraception pill is the same as the abortive pill, which the very mode of action of emergency oral contraception refutes. Women believe that after the use of emergency oral contraception, they do not have to be additionally protected until the end of the menstrual cycle, and that emergency contraception pill is effective in 100% of cases. They also believe that emergency oral contraception has long-lasting consequences and causes infertility. They believe that their acute side effects are very severe in the form of nausea and vomiting. One of the misconceptions is that emergency oral contraception is dispensed on prescription in all countries of the world. They also believe that emergency oral contraception is ineffective in obese women. All these myths have been countered by scientific facts and evidence. The media play a major role in spreading similar misconceptions.

Abstract (croatian)

Hitna kontracepcija jest metoda kontracepcije koja se koristi nakon seksualnog odnosa. Primjenjuje se u slučaju nezaštićenog spolnog odnosa, kod nepravilne primjene ili nezgode s već postojećom metodom kontracepcije (skliznuće/puknuće prezervativa, pomaknuće dijafragme, zaboravljena oralna kontracepcija) ili u slučaju seksualnog zlostavljanja. Ova metoda kontracepcije dokazala se vrlo djelotvornom u sprječavanju neželjenih i neplaniranih trudnoća koje su u današnjem svijetu i dalje prisutne u velikom broju, a većim dijelom završavaju pobačajem. Yuzpe metoda jest prva razvijena metoda hitne oralne kontracepcije. Danas je u većini zemalja zamijenjena učinkovitijim metodama koje imaju rjeđe i laganije nuspojave. Te metode uključuju levonorgestrel oralnu hormonsku kontracepciju te ulipristal acetat oralnu hormonsku kontracepciju. Glavni način djelovanja hitne oralne kontracepcije jest odgoda ovulacije. Ako je ovulacije već nastupila, metoda nisu djelotvorne te nemaju utjecaj na već postojeću trudnoću. Pri uvođenju hitne oralne kontracepcije, pojavili su se mnogi mitovi i zablude vezani za istu. Jedan od vodećih mitova jest da je hitna oralna kontracepcija isto što i abortivna pilula, što sam način djelovanja hitne oralne kontracepcije opovrgava. Žene vjeruju kako se nakon primjene hitne oralne kontracepcije ne moraju dodatno štiti do kraja menstrualnog ciklusa te kako je hitna oralna kontracepcija djelotvorna u 100% slučajeva. Također vjeruju kako hitna oralna kontracepcija ostavlja dugotrajne posljedice i uzrokuje neplodnost. Smatraju kako su akutne nuspojave istih vrlo teške, u vidu mučnina i povraćanja. Jedna od zabluda jest da se hitna oralna kontracepcija u svim zemljama svijeta izdaje na recept. Također vjeruju kako je hitna oralna kontracepcija nedjelotvorna kod pretilih žena. Svi navedeni mitovi opovrgnuti su znanstvenim činjenicama i dokazima. Mediji igraju glavnu ulogu u širenju sličnih zabluda.

• Keywords: emergency oral contraception; myths; misconceptions; media
• Keywords (croatian): hitna oralna kontracepcija; mitovi; zablude; mediji
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:673717
• Study programme: Title: Medicine (in English language); Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica medicine (doktor/doktorica medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-10-08 07:52:15