Ectopic gestation following emergency contraception with levonorgestrel.

Reports of ectopic gestation after failure of emergency contraceptive pills have thus far been rare, although the use of various types of emergency contraceptive pills is becoming more and more popular world-wide. We report two cases of ectopic gestation following failure of levonorgestrel as over-the-counter emergency contraceptive pills. The women personally purchased the pills over-the-counter at a drugstore and took them routinely. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of an ectopic gestation when an emergency contraceptive pill fails. We recommend to women the full use of established service networks to enhance education and dissemination of information on emergency contraception. Additionally, health providers should advise women very clearly that, if treatment fails, pregnancy could occur, including ectopic gestation.