<P> In September 2006, emergency contraception expert Anna Glasier wrote a BMJ editorial entitled "Emergency Contraception . Is it worth all the fuss?" that said in closing: "So is emergency contraception worth the fuss? If you are a woman who has had unprotected sex then of course it is, because emergency contraception will prevent pregnancy in some women some of the time--and if you don't want to get pregnant anything is better than nothing ." </P> <P> Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) (sometimes referred to as emergency hormonal contraception, EHC) may contain higher doses of the same hormones (estrogens, progestins, or both) found in regular combined oral contraceptive pills . Taken after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure, such higher doses may prevent pregnancy from occurring . </P> <P> Four types of emergency contraceptive pills are available: combined estrogen and progestin pills, progestin - only (levonorgestrel, LNG) pills, and antiprogestin (ulipristal acetate or mifepristone) pills . Progestin - only and antiprogestin pills are available as dedicated (specifically packaged for use as) emergency contraceptive pills . Combined estrogen and progestin pills are no longer available as dedicated emergency contraceptive pills, but certain regular combined oral contraceptive pills may be used as emergency contraceptive pills . </P> <P> Progestin - only emergency contraceptive pills contain levonorgestrel, either as a single tablet or as a split dose of two tablets taken 12 hours apart, effective up to 72 hours after intercourse . Progestin - only ECPs are sold under many different brand names . Progestin - only ECPs are available over-the - counter (OTC) in several countries (e.g. Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, India, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, United States), from a pharmacist without a prescription, and available with a prescription in some other countries . </P>

When did the morning after pill become legal in the us