Emergency contraception--parsimony and prevention in the medicine cabinet.

More than 90% of sexually active couples in 1990 who wished to avoid a pregnancy used some form of contraception. 3.5 million pregnancies are nonetheless unintended at the time of conception. Half of these pregnancies occurred to couples who reported using some form of contraception. The use of emergency contraception however would reduce a womans risk of pregnancy by at least 74%. Emergency contraception is highly underutilized. Women do not know about it clinicians do not talk about it regulators do not label it policymakers do not endorse it and pharmaceutical companies do not market it. Even organizations and clinicians which will provide emergency contraception do not advertise the service. In the interest of saving both lives and money emergency contraception should instead be readily available to all people who want it. Indeed emergency contraceptive pills should be provided prophylactically to all sexually active persons. As such the method would be readily available in the event of need just as home fire extinguishers allow residents to extinguish flames before they spread. Emergency contraceptive pills are extremely safe and home would add little toxic risk as a complement to other medicines and supplies in the home medicine cabinet.