A 27-year-old woman attends 96 hours after a slipped condom during intercourse. She wants the MOST effective available emergency contraception and has no contraindications to any method. The correct recommendation is:
- A Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg as a single dose
- B Ulipristal acetate 30 mg single dose
- C Copper-bearing intrauterine device insertion ✓
- D Yuzpe regimen of combined pills, repeated after 12 hours
Correct answer: C. Copper-bearing intrauterine device insertion
Explanation
The copper IUD is the most effective emergency contraceptive, with a failure rate below 0.1%, and it can be inserted up to 5 days after intercourse (or, where calculable, up to 5 days after expected ovulation), which covers her presentation at 96 hours. It also provides ongoing contraception. Oral levonorgestrel is licensed only to 72 hours and is less effective than the copper IUD, making it the tempting distractor that loses here.
Reference: WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria and Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 5th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.