What You Need to Know About

IUCD 380-A and Emergency Contraception

Family Planning Division

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government of India
What is the new Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device
(IUCD) 380-A?
 What is the new Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device
(IUCD) 380-A?

• It is a very effective long acting family planning method

• It is a small device made of plastic and copper that is inserted in
the uterus.
Who should use IUCD 380-A?
Who should use IUCD 380-A?
• Can be used by all women in the child bearing age group for
spacing births.
• Those women who have had a caesarean section birth
• Women who do not wish to undergo sterilisation but want an
effective long-term contraceptive method
• It can also be used as an emergency contraception if inserted
within 5 days of an unprotected intercourse.
Can IUCD be used as an emergency contraceptive?
Can IUCD be used as an emergency contraceptive?

• Yes, It is more effective than EC pills in preventing pregnancy

• It should be inserted within 5 days of unprotected intercourse
• It is effective even in situation of multiple episodes of
unprotected sexual intercourse.
When should IUCD 380-A be inserted?
When should IUCD 380-A be inserted?
• Anytime during the menstrual cycle after reasonably excluding
pregnancy
• Six weeks after delivery
• Immediately after MTP/abortion
• Immediately or within 48 hours of delivery (by a provider who
is trained in inserting IUCD during this period).
 Uterus

IUCD in the Uterus

How does IUCD 380-A work?

How does IUCD 380-A work?
• It prevents sperm and egg from meeting
• Prevents implantation of fertilized egg in uterine cavity.

Uterus

IUCD in the Uterus

What are the advantages of IUCD 380-A?
What are the advantages of IUCD 380-A?
• It provides long-term (10 years) highly effective and reversible
protection against pregnancy
• Does not require daily attention from the user or special
attention before sexual intercourse
• Is effective immediately after insertion
• Can be used by lactating women
• Once removed there is immediate return to fertility
• Does not have hormonal side-effects or interact with any
medicines that you may be taking
• An effective long-term contraceptive method for couples who
do not wish to undergo
sterilisation.
Are there any side-effects of
IUCD 380-A use?
 Are there any side-effects of
IUCD 380-A use?
• You may experience bleeding or spotting immediately after
insertion. This is not menstrual bleeding. You can perform all
household chores
• There may be increase in the duration/amount of menstrual
bleeding or spotting in between the first few menstrual cycles
• Discomfort or cramps after IUCD insertion for the next few
days.

Side-effects are only temporary and subside in due course of time.

 ?
What are the common myths about IUCD?
 What are the common myths about IUCD?
There are some common myths associated with use of IUCD which
are baseless and false.

Myths Wrong
IUCD causes weight gain x
IUCD causes infertility x
IUCD can leave the uterus and travel to distant parts of the body x
IUCD cannot be used by women who have had a caesarean section x
IUCD increases risk of infection x
IUCDs cause discomfort during sex for both the woman and her husband x
IUCD increases the risk of pregnancy outside uterus (Ectopic pregnancy) x

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What are Emergency Contraceptive
Pills?
 What are Emergency Contraceptive
Pills?
• Emergency contraception (EC) is a method that helps women
to prevent unwanted pregnancy from unprotected intercourse
• Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) and IUCD can be used as
emergency contraceptive methods
• ECPs are hormonal oral contraceptive pills and must be used
within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected intercourse
• If IUCD is used as an emergency contraception, it should be
inserted within 5 days of unprotected intercourse and can be
continued as a long-term
method
How does ECP work?
 How does ECP work?
• Depending on when you use ECPs during your monthly cycle,
the pills will either stop the release of an egg, prevent
fertilization of an egg, or prevent transport of the sperm and
ovum.
Does ECP cause abortion?
 Does ECP cause abortion?
• No, it does not cause abortion
• ECP is not effective once the fertilized egg is attached to the
uterus.
When should you use ECP?
 When should you use ECP?
• ECP should be used ONLY in emergency situations after couple
have taken all precautions to prevent conception like condom
burst or slippage during sexual intercourse
• ECP can also be used in rare situations like:
• Failure to take oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for 2 or
more consecutive days
• Delay of more than 14 days in taking a contraceptive
injection (DMPA or Net-en) and more than 7 days in cases
of Cyclofem injections
• In case of forced sex or rape
• Failure to withdraw penis from vagina before ejaculation
or ejaculation occurs inside the vagina
• Miscalculation of the fertile period.
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How should you use ECP?

 How should you use ECP?
• ECPs must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse
• After taking ECPs, if menstruation gets delayed by more than
one week from the expected date, go for a medical
opinion/pregnancy test.

Dosage of ECP: Single dose of 1.5 mg of Levonorgestrol to be taken

within 72 hours of unprotected sex (one tablet of 1.5 mg or 2 tablets
of 0.75mg)

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Does ECP cause any side-effects?
 Does ECP cause any side-effects?
• ECPs may cause temporary side-effects such as nausea,
vomiting, headache, dizziness, fatigue, and breast tenderness
• These side-effects generally do not last more than 24 hours.
Are ECPs safe?
 Are ECPs safe?
ECPs are safe only as an "emergency measure"
• For all women
• Women who are advised not to use OC pills
• Breastfeeding women.
How effective are ECPs?
 How effective are ECPs?
• ECPs taken within 72 hours of unprotected vaginal intercourse
are 85% effective and fails in approximately 15 out of 100
women who have correctly taken ECP
• ECP are more effective if taken within 12 to 24 hours of
unprotected intercourse
• Any delay in taking the pills decreases the efficacy of ECP, that
is why ECP should be used only in emergency situations and not
as a regular contraceptive.
How will I return to my regular family
planning method after using ECP?
 How will I return to my regular family
planning method after using ECP?
• Condom can be used immediately after using ECPs
• OCP users should start a new packet of OCP from the beginning
of the first day of next menstrual period. Meanwhile, they
should use condoms for the rest of this menstrual cycle
• Injectable contraceptives can be initiated within 7 days of
beginning the next menstrual period. Condom should be used
during remaining period of current cycle
• If there is a delay in menstruation of more than one week,
women should contact the health care provider/take a
pregnancy test for excluding pregnancy.
Remember!
 Remember!
• ECP is NOT a regular family planning method. It is only for
emergency situations
• It gives women a second chance to prevent an unwanted
pregnancy from unprotected intercourse
• Consult a health care provider immediately after first use
• ECPs should be used within 72 hours of unprotected
intercourse
• ECPs cannot cause abortion
• Repeated use of EC pills decrease the effectiveness of the pill,
increases side-effects as the amount of hormones consumed
would be much higher than the regular
oral hormonal pills
• Hence, ECPs are not a substitute for
regular contraception.
 Family Planning Division
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government of India