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BACKGROUND: Ulipristal acetate (UPA) and levonorgestrel are used as emergency hormonal contraceptives. Although both are highly effective in preventing pregnancy, UPA shows efficacy even when taken up to 120 h after unprotected sexual intercourse. AIMS: To investigate whether the mechanism of UPA's contraceptive action involves post-fertilization effects. METHODS: In vitro and in vivo studies using cultured human endometrial cells and a pre-clinical rat model. RESULTS: Endometrial cells treated with UPA showed changes in the expression of receptivity gene markers and a significant decrease in trophoblast spheroids attached to the cultured cells. In addition, administration of UPA to female unmated rats decreased the expression of implantation-related genes in the endometrium and inhibited the number of implantation sites in the mated group compared to the non-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: These results support that UPA as an emergency contraceptive might have post-fertilization effects that may affect embryo implantation.

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Introduction: Emergency Contraception (EC) is available in Brazil since 1996, when it was adopted as one if the family planning strategies and, in 1998, for use in services assisting victims of sexual violence. In the country, its use is regulated by guidelines. Its access through SUS (Unified Health System), however, does not seem to occur in a standardized manner. Methods: The aim of the study was to analyze the availability and barriers to accessing emergency contraception (levonorgestrel) in Brazilian municipalities with more than 500 thousand inhabitants. The survey was carried out by a form sent to the Municipal Health Departments (SMS) managers and a search on the list of standardized medicines by the hospitals in the same municipalities. Results: The Basic Health Units were identified as the standard access places to EC. However, one of the obstacles mentioned is the need for a prescription for dispensing in almost 80% of the analyzed cities. Access in emergency situations at night and on weekends is also uncertain, since although 67% of the places stated that they dispense at the hospital level, the item was only standardized in 21% of the hospital lists. Discussion: The difficult access this drug in the public system essentially tends to harm the poorest women, who are the ones who suffer most from the consequences of an unwanted pregnancy.

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BACKGROUND: Emergency contraception with levonorgestrel (LNG) is a viable option to prevent unintended pregnancies. Although the efficacy of LNG as an anovulatory agent decreases as treatment approaches ovulation, it still provides some contraceptive benefits. AIM: To better understand the contraceptive mechanisms of LNG in ovulatory subjects. METHODS: We conducted a study on Wistar rats that received a single dose of LNG (0.01 or 0.05 mg/kg) on the morning of proestrus before ovulation and evaluated its effects on ovarian gene expression, ovulation, and implantation. RESULTS: Our findings showed changes in the expression of genes involved in follicular development and oocyte quality. Pregnancy rates - as an indicator of ovulation - and embryo implantation were significantly lower than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that LNG alters regulatory factors in the ovary that are essential for the development of competent fertilizable oocytes, highlighting the non-anovulatory mechanisms by which levonorgestrel may regulate fertility and suggesting that it could be a novel observation that contributes to the understanding of emergency contraception in humans.

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BACKGROUND: Access to the full spectrum of healthcare should be available to all individuals. After the revocation of the constitutional right to abortion, women have fewer alternatives to unplanned pregnancy. Telehealth provides an additional option for such pregnancies through its remote provision of services. This could benefit women of all social strata. However, data regarding telehealth among underserved populations are limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the use of contraception, awareness of abortion services, and receptiveness to telehealth among women in Puerto Rico, a Spanish-speaking minority population. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of women living in Puerto Rico aged between 21 and 65 years. Data were collected with a self-administered survey via SurveyMonkey from March to December of 2021. Recruitment was done through social media and at the gynecology clinics of the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus and San Juan City Hospital. Analysis was done with Stata, version 14.2. Chi-square and Cochran-Armitage tests were used to evaluate the unadjusted relationship between variables. A P value ≤.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 286 women were recruited. Of these, 73.3% (189/258) were sexually active, 89.1% (229/257) were heterosexual, and 62.7% (163/260) were not using contraception. In addition, 63.3% (157/248) knew about emergency contraception, yet 42.4% (103/243) were unaware of any sources of access to it; 76.6% (197/257) were unaware of nearby abortion services. A higher education level was associated with knowing about emergency contraception (P<.05) and awareness of sources of access to it (P<.05). However, no significant association was found between a higher education level and awareness of nearby abortion services (P=.799). Regarding telehealth, 65.2% (176/270) were willing to use the service for future gynecologic visits, yet only 18.9% (51/269) were offered telehealth services. No association was found between previous telehealth experiences and willingness to use telehealth for future gynecologic visits (P=.325). CONCLUSION: The lack of contraceptive use and unawareness of nearby abortion services place women at increased risk of unplanned pregnancy and unsafe practices. The gap between knowledge about and access to emergency contraception also calls for action. Telehealth may be of benefit given that most women showed interest in using it, and could be used for educating and providing women in Puerto Rico with contraception and medical abortions, further increasing their access to reproductive healthcare. Clarifying misconceptions and instructing women about safe practices is essential to our role as physicians. Ensuring women's access to adequate services is also vital for upholding their rights to healthcare.

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pílula contraceptiva de emergência (CE) é chamada pelos médicos de pílula anticoncepcional pós-coito. É um método anticoncepcional de emergência e deve ser tomada até 72 horas após a relação sexual. É adequado para casos de abuso sexual, preservativos rompidos ou falha de outros métodos anticoncepcionais. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o perfil da dispensação do contraceptivo de emergência (CE) em uma farmácia comercial localizada em um distrito do município de Assis Chateaubriand no oeste do estado do Paraná. Para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa, foi avaliado a quantidade do medicamento dispensado com o princípio ativo levonorgestrel no período de três meses em uma farmácia de dispensação de medicamentos no distrito de Bragantina, assim como a faixa etária da paciente que utilizou, o seu estado civil e o motivo da compra da pílula. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de ética sob o número do CAAE: 60509322.3.0000.0109. Os resultados mostraram que no período do desenvolvimento da pesquisa, 10 pacientes fizeram uso da CE, sendo 5 solteiras e 5 casadas, sendo 50%. Quando relatado a idade das pacientes que fazem uso do CE, os resultados foram entre 19 até 41 anos. Quando perguntado para as pacientes se elas faziam uso de outro método contraceptivo e se presente, qual seria este método, os resultados encontrados foram: 40% das mulheres não utilizam outro método contraceptivo e 60% fazem o uso de outro contraceptivo, destes, o percentual foi de 66% que faziam o uso de preservativo e 34% faziam o uso de anticoncepcional. Em relação ao horário pós-coito, isto é, quantas horas após o coito elas procuraram a farmácia para comprar a CE, os resultados encontrados foram de 08 horas até 52 horas. Sendo assim, conclui-se que o estudo possui relevância frente à procura da PDS, no entanto, é de suma importância não esquecer de que a PDS deve ser utilizada somente em casos de emergências e não como uso rotineiro, para isso, existem outros métodos de contraceptivos que podem ser de recurso rotineiro. Neste sentido, mais estudos são necessários para avaliar se a população tem conhecimento sobre o tema, se o farmacêutico está preparado para atendê-los e o porquê da população não se programar melhor para evitar os possíveis "acidentes".

The morning after pill (PDS) is called the post-coital birth control pill by doctors. It is an emergency contraceptive method and must be taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse. It is suitable for cases of sexual abuse, broken condoms or failure of other contraceptive methods. Therefore, the objective of the present study will be to evaluate the profile of the dispensation of emergency contraceptives (EC) in a pharmacy in the western municipality of the state of Paraná. For the development of the research, the amount of medication dispensed in a period of three months in a drug dispensing pharmacy was evaluated, as well as the age group of the patient who will use it, her marital status and the reason for purchasing the pill. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee under CAAE number: 60509322.3.0000.0109. The results showed that during the research development period, 10 patients used PDS, 5 of them single and 5 married, being 50%. When reporting the age of patients using the morning-after pill, the results ranged from 19 to 41 years. When asked to patients if they used another contraceptive method and, if present, which method this would be, the results found were: 40% of women do not use another contraceptive method and 60% use another contraceptive, of these, the percentage 66% used condoms and 34% used contraceptives. Regarding the post-coital time, that is, how many hours after coitus they looked for the pharmacy to buy the PDS, the results found were from 08 hours to 52 hours. Therefore, it is concluded that care with medication intake becomes more important when it comes to EC, due to its potential risks to the female body, which can have consequences, especially when used excessively and without prior knowledge. Thus, more guidance on the use and its adverse effects, as more studies on the subject are necessary, in order to minimize the damage that PDS can cause in the female organism.

La píldora del día después (PDS) es llamada por los médicos píldora anticonceptiva poscoital. Es un método anticonceptivo de emergencia y debe ser tomada dentro de las 72 horas siguientes a la relación sexual. Está indicada en casos de abuso sexual, rotura del preservativo o fracaso de otros métodos anticonceptivos. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio será evaluar el perfil de la dispensación de anticonceptivos de emergencia (AE) en una farmacia del municipio oeste del estado de Paraná. Para el desarrollo de la investigación, se evaluó la cantidad de medicación dispensada en un período de tres meses en una farmacia dispensadora de medicamentos, así como el grupo etario de la paciente que la utilizará, su estado civil y el motivo de compra de la píldora. El proyecto fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética con el número CAAE: 60509322.3.0000.0109. Los resultados mostraron que durante el período de desarrollo de la investigación, 10 pacientes utilizaron la PDS, 5 de ellas solteras y 5 casadas, siendo el 50%. Al informar sobre la edad de las pacientes que utilizaban la píldora del día después, los resultados oscilaron entre 19 y 41 años. Cuando se preguntó a las pacientes si utilizaban otro método anticonceptivo y, en caso afirmativo, cuál sería, los resultados encontrados fueron: 40% de las mujeres no utilizan otro método anticonceptivo y 60% utilizan otro anticonceptivo, de estas, el porcentaje 66% utilizó preservativo y 34% anticonceptivos. En cuanto al tiempo post-coital, es decir, cuántas horas después del coito buscaron la farmacia para comprar la PDS, los resultados encontrados fueron de 08 horas a 52 horas. Por lo tanto, se concluye que el cuidado con la ingesta de medicamentos se vuelve más importante cuando se trata de la AE, debido a sus riesgos potenciales para el organismo femenino, que pueden tener consecuencias, especialmente cuando se usa en exceso y sin conocimiento previo. Por lo tanto, son necesarias más orientaciones sobre el uso y sus efectos adversos, así como más estudios sobre el tema, con el fin de minimizar los daños que la PDS puede causar en el organismo femenino.

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El inicio sexual temprano, conlleva numerosos riesgos como embarazos precoces o enfermedades de transmisión sexual, abortos; por ello, la importancia de que los adolescentes conozcan la anticoncepción de emergencia, sobre todo, para la prevención del embarazo no deseado y las secuelas del aborto. Objetivo. Describir la anticoncepción de emergencia y la evaluación de su conocimiento en adolescentes. Materiales y métodos. Revisión sistemática, basado en criterios de inclusión y exclusión, se realizó la búsqueda de documentos entre los años 2020 y 2021, de las bases de datos PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Redalyc, Scielo. Se usaron las palabras clave de los DeCS y MeSH; además, se utilizó los operadores booleanos AND, OR. Se obtuvieron 18 artículos para elaborar esta investigación. Resultados. El uso de anticoncepción de emergencia (AE) varía entre el 10,6% hasta un 60% en dependencia de la población estudiada, además, gran parte de los factores de rechazo radican en una desinformación acerca de su mecanismo de acción y a la estigmatización de la misma, el cual es visto como un método abortivo. El nivel de conocimiento acerca de la AE es baja, destacando factores como el hecho de asistir a un colegio de menor nivel académico y ser inmigrante, los que se asocian con un menor conocimiento de la misma. Conclusiones. Pese a los esfuerzos por garantizar una salud sexual y reproductiva los niveles de conocimiento sobre el AE son bajos, siendo reflejado en la prevalencia de utilización y en los factores que limitan su adquisición y uso.

Early sexual initiation carries numerous risks such as early pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, abortions; therefore, it is important for adolescents to know about emergency contraception, especially for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and the sequelae of abortion. Objective. To describe emergency contraception and the evaluation of its knowledge in adolescents. Materials and methods. Systematic review, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we searched for documents between 2020 and 2021, from PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Redalyc, Scielo databases. DeCS and MeSH keywords were used; in addition, the Boolean operators AND, OR were used. Eighteen articles were obtained to prepare this research. Results. The use of emergency contraception (EC) varies from 10.6% to 60% depending on the population studied. In addition, a large part of the rejection factors lie in misinformation about its mechanism of action and its stigmatization, which is seen as an abortive method. The level of knowledge about EC is low, with factors such as the fact of attending a school with a lower academic level and being an immigrant being associated with a lower level of knowledge. Conclusions. Despite the efforts to guarantee sexual and reproductive health, the levels of knowledge about EC are low, being reflected in the prevalence of use and in the factors that limit its acquisition and use.

A iniciação sexual precoce acarreta inúmeros riscos, como gravidez precoce ou doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, abortos; portanto, é importante que as adolescentes estejam cientes da contracepção de emergência, especialmente para a prevenção da gravidez indesejada e das conseqüências do aborto. Objetivo. Para descrever a anticoncepção de emergência e a avaliação de seus conhecimentos em adolescentes. Materiais e métodos. Revisão sistemática, baseada em critérios de inclusão e exclusão, pesquisamos documentos entre 2020 e 2021, nas bases de dados PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Redalyc, Scielo. Foram utilizadas as palavras-chave DeCS e MeSH; além disso, foram utilizados os operadores Booleanos AND, OR. Dezoito artigos foram obtidos para esta pesquisa. Resultados. O uso da anticoncepção de emergência (CE) varia de 10,6% a 60% dependendo da população estudada. Além disso, uma grande parte dos fatores de rejeição reside na desinformação sobre seu mecanismo de ação e sua estigmatização, o que é visto como um método abortivo. O nível de conhecimento sobre CE é baixo, com fatores como o fato de freqüentar uma escola com um nível acadêmico inferior e ser um imigrante sendo associado a um nível de conhecimento inferior. Conclusões. Apesar dos esforços para garantir a saúde sexual e reprodutiva, os níveis de conhecimento sobre CE são baixos, como refletido na prevalência do uso e nos fatores que limitam sua aquisição e uso.

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OBJECTIVE: To understand the use and awareness of EHC among university students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive observational study with a quantitative approach was conducted with a random sample of university students from Villavicencio using a self-administered survey. A description of the variables was performed, followed by a multinomial regression to evaluate possible associations with the non-use of HEC, obtaining OR. RESULTS: A total of 273 students were surveyed, out of whom 95.97% stated that they were aware of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) and 4.03% were unaware. 59.34% students had previously used EHC, whereas 40.66% had not. On evaluation of the respondents' knowledge regarding EHC, it was found that 135 students (49.45%) possessed an acceptable level of knowledge of EHC, whereas 138 students (50.55%) did not pass the evaluation and possessed a very low level of knowledge regarding EHC. It is suggested in the results that there is more predisposition to the use of the EHC method in women (OR 1.89 CI 1.15-3.09, p=0.00009), and in those who have received counseling on contraception (OR 3.09 CI 1.88-5.07, p= 0.0000016. CONCLUSION: The results of the survey suggest that the existing education and communication strategies regarding sexuality and contraceptive use for adolescents and young adults should be rethought.

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OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to analyze usage rates for the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) among women living in the city of São Paulo and their associated factors. STUDY DESIGN: A population based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015 with a probabilistic sample of 4,000 women aged 15 to 44 living in São Paulo, Brazil. Response rate for households was 75% and 77% for eligible women. Binary logistic regression models were used to describe the association between each outcome and selected variables. RESULTS: A total of 51.4% of women living in the city of São Paulo had used ECP at least once in their lifetime. Women under 35 were more likely to use ECP, as were those with more than 9 years of schooling, having at least one live birth, not cohabiting with a partner, with more than two lifetime sexual partners and as length of sexual life decreased. Among ECP users, 32.6% used it only once, 47.5% used it 2 to 4 times, and 19.9% used it 5 or more times. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ECPs have been incorporated into the contraceptive method mix for many women as a fundamental strategy for regulating fertility. Particularly young women, unmarried women and those who have had more partners seem to take greater advantage of ECP to prevent pregnancy. IMPLICATIONS: Despite the high use rate, lower levels of schooling are associated with lower levels of ECP use. There is a need for both policies to reduce schooling inequities and strategies to improve women's knowledge of reproduction and contraception.

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Abstract Background: Levonorgestrel (LNG) is a progesterone receptor agonist used in both regular and emergency hormonal contraception; however, its effects on the endometrium as a contraceptive remain widely unknown and under public debate. Objective: To analyze the effects of LNG or mifepristone (MFP), a progesterone receptor antagonist and also known as RU-486, administered at the time of follicle rupture (FR) on endometrial transcriptome during the receptive period of the menstrual cycle. Methods: Ten volunteers ovulatory women were studied during two menstrual cycles, a control cycle and a consecutively treated cycle; in this last case, women were randomly allocated to two groups of 5 women each, receiving one dose of LNG (1.5 mg) or MFP (50 mg) the day of the FR by ultrasound. Endometrial biopsies were taken 6 days after drug administration and prepared for microarray analysis. Results: Genomic functional analysis in the LNG-treated group showed as activated the bio-functions embryo implantation and decidualization, while these bio-functions in the T-MFP group were predicted as inhibited. Conclusions: The administration of LNG as a hormonal emergency contraceptive resulted in an endometrial gene expression profile associated with receptivity. These results agree on the concept that LNG does not affect endometrial receptivity and/or embryo implantation when used as an emergency contraceptive.

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A contracepção de emergência tem como objetivo prevenir uma gravidez indesejada após uma relação sexual desprotegida, falha do método contraceptivo regular ou agressão sexual. Dentre os métodos disponíveis atualmente, destaca-se a pílula hormonal de levonorgestrel (LNG) como uma das principais estratégias utilizadas, tendo em vista o perfil de segurança desse fármaco e a facilidade de acesso e utilização dele. No entanto, embora o efeito de tal molécula seja satisfatório, pesquisas sugerem que altos índices de massa corporal implicam uma redução da eficácia contraceptiva da pílula de LNG. Nesse sentido, esse estudo visa evidenciar, mediante revisão de literatura, a relação entre esse fármaco e sua competência em mulheres com sobrepeso ou obesidade, bem como expor quais medidas devem ser tomadas para evitar a gravidez indesejada nessas pacientes. Embora existam divergências, foi observado que a maior parte dos estudos indica que a composição corporal das pacientes pode influenciar na eficácia contraceptiva da molécula de LNG, de forma sinérgica ou não com outros fatores, especialmente quando considerado o IMC > 25 kg/m² ou peso > 75 kg, uma vez que o risco de gravidez pode aumentar de 1,5 até 4,4 vezes quando comparado aos padrões de normalidade, com tendência de crescimento em relação aos parâmetros de sobrepeso/obesidade.(AU)

The main goal of the emergency contraceptive is to prevent a non-planned pregnancy after the sexual relationship without condom, after the fail of the usual contraceptive or the sexual assault. Among all the currently available methods, the hormonal pill of levonorgestrel (LNG) has its importance as one of the most used strategies, due of its safety, easy access and use. However, in spite of the fact that this molecule has a good effect, some researches suggest that a high level of the body mass reduces the efficacy of the contraceptive pill of LNG. In this context, this study objective is to clarify, by using literature review, the relation between this drug and its competence in overweight/obese women, as well to expose which other options could be taken to avoid a non-planned pregnancy in those patients. Despite of the fact that there are divergences, the most part of the studies shows that patient's body composition can influence on the contraceptive effectiveness of the LNG molecule, sinergically or not to other factors, especially when the IMC > 25 kg/m² or the body weight > 75 kg, once the pregnancy risk can be raised from 1,5 to 4,4 times when compared to regular standards, with growth tendency when related to overweigh/obesity parameters.(AU)

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O objetivo deste estudo é realizar uma revisão sistemática das publicações científicas entre 2007 e 2016 sobre os conhecimentos, as práticas e as atitudes dos participantes frente à anticoncepção de emergência (AE). Efetuou-se uma busca em três bases de dados: Lilacs, BVS-Psi e Scielo, no período de 2007 a 2016. Foram encontrados 260 artigos, sendo incluídos 25 estudos após a avaliação de três juízes independentes. Sobre os conhecimentos acerca da AE, percebeu-se que saber da existência do método não significa ter conhecimento efetivo. Já os determinantes do uso, em geral, são a falha ou o esquecimento de um contraceptivo de rotina. Finalmente, as atitudes frente à AE são mais embasadas num posicionamento pessoal subjetivo que em conhecimento efetivo.

The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the scientific publica-tions between 2007 and 2016 centered on the participants' knowledge, practices and attitudes towards emergency contraception (EC). A survey was done on three databases: Lilacs, BVS-Psi and Scielo, from 2007 to 2016. We found 260 articles, including 25 studies after the evaluation of three independent judges. Regarding the knowledge about AE, it was established that awareness of the method does not equate to effective knowledge about it. Usage is based on failure or forgetting a routine contraceptive. Finally, attitudes toward AE are more grounded in a subjective personal positioning than in effective knowledge.

El objetivo de este estudio es realizar una revisión sistemática de las publi-caciones científicas entre 2007 y 2016 sobre los conocimientos, las prácticas y las actitudes de los participantes frente a la anticoncepción de emergencia (AE). Se efectuó una búsqueda en tres bases de datos: Lilacs, BVS-Psi y Scielo, en el período de 2007 a 2016. Se encontraron 260 artículos, siendo incluidos 25 estudios después de la evaluación de tres jueces independientes. Sobre los conocimientos sobre la AE, se percibió que saber de la existencia del método no significa tener conocimiento efectivo. Los determinantes del uso, en general, son la falla o el olvido del anticonceptivo de rutina. Finalmente, las actitudes frente a la AE son más basadas en un posicionamiento personal subjetivo que en conocimiento efectivo.

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OBJECTIVE: This paper examines the factors related to emergency contraception (EC) use in the context of contraceptive discontinuation among undergraduate women in Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: This a retrospective cohort study conducted among a probability sample of 1679 undergraduate women in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected online using a contraceptive calendar. We examined factors related to EC use following contraceptive discontinuation for method-related reasons and contraceptive abandonment. We also analyzed factors related to EC use following inconsistent use of contraception. Analyses were conducted using Pearson's Chi-square tests and logistic regression. RESULTS: More than half (54.6%) of young women reported lifetime EC use and 16.5% had used EC in the 12-months prior to the survey. Last use of EC was mostly related to inconsistent or incorrect use of regular contraception (90.6%). Three quarters of women (76.2%) who discontinued contraception and were at risk of becoming pregnant did not use EC following discontinuation, and only 10.5% used EC after stopping contraception altogether. Women who were younger, who self-identified as Evangelicals, who reported more than four lifetime sexual partners, and who had no pregnancy history had higher odds of using EC following discontinuation for method-related reasons. CONCLUSION: We conclude that most undergraduate students in São Paulo Brazil do not use EC when needed, such as contraceptive discontinuation, potentially reflecting a lack of pregnancy risk recognition.

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Ulipristal acetate (UPA) is a selective progesterone receptor modulator used for emergency contraception that has proven to be highly effective in preventing pregnancy when taken up to 120 h after unprotected sexual intercourse. Even though it may act mainly by delaying or inhibiting ovulation, additional effects of UPA on post-fertilization events cannot be excluded. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether a single post-ovulatory dose of UPA could prevent pregnancy using the mouse as a pre-clinical model. Mated females received a single dose of UPA (40 mg/kg) on Day E1.5 or E2.5 (E0.5: copulatory plug detection) and post-fertilization events were evaluated. Our studies revealed that UPA administration produced a significant decrease in the number of conceptuses compared to control. Moreover, UPA-treated females exhibited a lower number of early implantation sites on Day E5.5, despite normal in vivo embryo development and transport to the uterus at E3.5. Administration of UPA produced histological and functional alterations in the uterine horns, i.e., a dyssynchronous growth between endometrial glands and stroma, with non-physiological combination of both fractions compared to controls, and a completely impaired ability to respond to an artificial decidualization stimulus. Altogether, our results show that the administration of a single post-ovulatory dose of UPA impairs mouse pregnancy probably due to an effect on embryo-uterine interaction, supporting additional effects of the drug on post-fertilization events. Although these studies cannot be performed with human samples, our results with the mouse model provide new insights into the mechanism of action of UPA as an emergency contraception method.

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OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to describe contraceptive patterns 30 days after use of emergency contraception (EC) among female undergraduate students in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This study was part of a larger project conducted in 2015 among 1679 female students aged 18-24 enrolled at the University of São Paulo. Analysis was restricted to the 916 students who reported lifetime use of EC. Logistic regression models were used to examine factors related to the use of contraception within the 30 day period following the last use of EC, changes in contraceptive behaviour before and after EC use, and gaps in contraceptive use within 30 days after EC use. RESULTS: Most women (75.4%) used contraception after accessing EC; 92.9% who used contraception prior to EC exposure resumed use of contraception afterwards, compared with 40.7% who did not use contraception prior to EC exposure. Only 6.3% of women switched to a less effective contraceptive method after EC use. Few women (7.5%) reported post-EC gaps in contraception. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that EC may serve as a potential precursor to regular contraception among undergraduates in Brazil, with few women reporting contraceptive gaps after EC use. These patterns may contribute to reducing the risk of unintended pregnancy in this population.

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In order to get further information on the effects of ulipristal acetate (UPA) upon the process of decidualization of endometrium, a functional analysis of the differentially expressed genes in endometrium (DEG) from UPA treated-versus control-cycles of normal ovulatory women was performed. A list of 1183 endometrial DEG, from a previously published study by our group, was submitted to gene ontology, gene enrichment and ingenuity pathway analyses (IPA). This functional analysis showed that decidualization was a biological process overrepresented. Gene set enrichment analysis identified LIF, PRL, IL15 and STAT3 among the most down-regulated genes within the JAK STAT canonical pathway. IPA showed that decidualization of uterus was a bio-function predicted as inhibited by UPA. The results demonstrated that this selective progesterone receptor modulator, when administered during the periovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, may affect the molecular mechanisms leading to endometrial decidualization in response to progesterone during the period of maximum embryo receptivity.

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Resumo O artigo aborda alguns resultados da pesquisa Uma investigação socioantropológica no âmbito das farmácias: posição de farmacêuticos e balconistas sobre a contracepção de emergência, uma pesquisa mais ampla, realizada entre 2012 e 2014, com o objetivo de conhecer as concepções e práticas dos farmacêuticos e balconistas sobre a comercialização da contracepção de emergência no país. A coleta de dados entre os farmacêuticos se deu por meio de um questionário on-line, anônimo e autoaplicado, disponível na Plataforma DataSUS/FormSUS, e a divulgação do estudo contou com apoio de órgãos de classe da categoria profissional em foco. Obteve-se a participação voluntária de 383 farmacêuticos, 74,5% pertencentes ao sexo feminino e 25,5%, ao masculino, e a maioria (78,1%) afirmou que os consumidores costumam apresentar dúvidas sobre a contracepção de emergência e seu uso, e procuram os profissionais para saná-las. A maior parte dos entrevistados (88,4%) já buscou informações a respeito da contracepção de emergência, e uma parcela significativa deles (49,9%) desconhece sua distribuição no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). O atendimento farmacêutico às consumidoras é problematizado, tendo em vista a importância de incluir esse profissional no debate público nacional sobre o tema e de valorizar sua atuação clínica em farmácias e drogarias. São discutidas, por fim, a questão do uso racional de medicamentos e as possíveis contribuições das ciências sociais ao tema.

Abstract The article addresses results from a broader survey entitled "A socio-anthropological investigation about drugstores: position of pharmacists and clerks on emergency contraception", carried out from 2012 to 2014. The purpose of this study is to understand pharmacists and clerks' conceptions and practices about the commercialization of emergency contraception in Brazil. The data was collected through an anonymous, self-administered on-line questionnaire available on the DataSUS/FormSUS Platform, and the disclosure of the study had the Brazilian pharmaceutical societies support. 383 pharmacists participated voluntarily (n=383), from which 74.5% were female and 25.5% were male. Most interviewees (78.1%) said that consumers usually have questions about emergency contraception and its use, and they often seek the professionals to clarify them. Most of them (88.4%) have already sought information about the emergency contraception, and a significant proportion of pharmacists (49.9%) do not know about their distribution in the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). The pharmaceutical service to emergency contraception users is problematized, considering the importance of including these professionals in the Brazilian public debate on the subject and valuing their clinical performance in pharmacies and drugstores. Furthermore, we discuss the rational use of medicines and the contributions of social sciences to the subject.

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Resumo O Consórcio Internacional sobre Contracepção de Emergência (ICEC) é uma organização não governamental, criada em 1996 por iniciativa da Fundação Rockefeller. O ICEC tem sido o principal interlocutor no cenário mundial na defesa do acesso à contracepção de emergência (CE) e na sua difusão nos, assim chamados, países em desenvolvimento. Seu website é uma importante fonte de informação e veículo para advogar em prol dos CE. Foi realizada uma análise temática em documentos selecionados do website do ICEC disponíveis no período de 2013 e 2014. Este artigo indaga se a ausência de uma discussão ampla sobre sexualidade e direitos humanos, constatada no material analisado, seria pautada por um cenário político de acirrado fundamentalismo religioso.

Abstract The International Consortium for Emergency Contraception is a non-governmental organization, created in 1996 by initiative of the Rockefeller Foundation initiative. ICEC has been the main international voice advocating for the access to emergency contraception (EC) and its dissemination in so-called developing countries. Its website is an important source of information and a vehicle for EC advocacy. A thematic analysis was performed on selected ICEC website documents available during the 2013-2014 period. This article questions whether the lack of a broad discussion on sexuality and human rights that results from this assessment responds to a political scenario of intensified religious fundamentalism.

Resumen El Consorcio Internacional sobre Contracepción de Emergencia (ICEC) es una organización no gubernamental, criada en 1996 por iniciativa de la Fundación Rockefeller. El ICEC ha sido el principal interlocutor en el escenario mundial en la defensa del acceso a la anticoncepción de emergencia (AE) y en su difusión los llamados países en desarrollo. Su sitio web es una importante fuente de información y vehículo para abogar en favor de los AE. Fue realizado un análisis temático en documentos seleccionados en el sitio web del ICEC disponibles durante el período de 2013 y 2014. Este artículo indaga si la falta de una discusión amplia sobre sexualidad y derechos humanos, constatada en el material analizado, sería resultado de un escenario político de intensificado fundamentalismo religioso.

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