Emergency Contraception

Clinical Pathways promote evidence based, safe, and high-value care for patients by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members. 

Clinical Pathway:

• Emergency Contraception Algorithm
• Emergency Contraception Synopsis (provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway)

Additional tools associated with this Clinical Pathway:

• Emergency Contraception Options Table 
• STI Screening Tool 
• Emergency Contraception (available here or accessed through patient education on Scope)
• Healthy Sexual Behaviors (available here or accessed through the depart instructions in Cerner)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for this Clinical Pathway: 

Inclusion:

• • Adolescents at risk for unintended pregnancy

Exclusion:

• • If > 120 hours (5 days) since unprotected sexual intercourse, inadequately protected sexual intercourse, or sexual assault.

Committee members and reviewers involved in the development:

• Abbey Masonbrink, MD, MPH | Hospital Medicine | Committee Chair
• Lisa Post-Jones, MSN, RN, CPN, SANE-P | SANE Program | Reviewer
• Jeanette Higgins, RN, MSN, CPNP | Gynecology | Reviewer 
• Diane Petrie, FNP-BC, AAHIVS, CPN | Infectious Diseases | Reviewer
• Amanda Nedved, MD | Urgent Care | Reviewer
• Gladesia Tolbert, DNP, CPNP, PMHS | General Academic Pediatrics/Primary Care Clinic | Reviewer
• Alaina Burns, Pharm.D., BCPPS | Pharmacy | Reviewer
• Melissa Smith, APRN | Emergency Department | Reviewer
• Katie Stangler, RN, MSN, APRN, CPNP, CCRN | Emergency Department | Reviewer
• Andrea Nos, MD | Adolescent Medicine| Reviewer
• Jennifer Hansen, MD | SANE Program| Reviewer
• Rachel Neihart, LCSW, LSCSW | Inpatient Care Management| Reviewer

EBP Committee Members:

• Kathleen Berg, MD, FAAP | Hospitalist, Evidence Based Practice
• Andrea Melanson, OTD, OTR/L | Evidence Based Practice
• Kelli Ott, OTD, OTR/L | Evidence Based Practice

Publication dates:

• Finalized date: 01/2023
• Next expected revision date: 01/2026

If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu.

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.