The emergency department gynaecologist and emergency postcoital contraception.

Tbe emergency department gynaecologist is often faced witb req uests for emergency postcoital contraception. Tbe pbysician on duty is usuall y very busy and does not always bave enougb time to perform a complete eva luation of tbe woman's state of bealtb. Tbe emergency gynaecologist wbo prescribes postcoital contraception al so bas a number of otber prob lems to cape witb in regard to tbe pbarmaco logical preparations on tbe market, tbe efficacy of various metbods, tbe monitoring of side-effects wbicb are not, always, tolerated by ali patients and tbe outcome of bis tberapeutic prescri ption. Ali tbese aspects sbould be empbas ized in tbe "fi rst aid" counse lling offered to tbe patients. In conclusion, we consider tbat any women wbo decides to use postcoital contraception sbould bave tbe ri gbt to receive ass istance of guaranteed quali ty tbrougbout tbe period tbat elapses between taking tbe drug and tbe subseq uent menstrual cycle. Tbis is not stri ct ly guaranteed by an emergency gynaecological service.