Emergency contraception in Malta includes two types of emergency contraceptive pills, with the more popular ones named ESCAPELLE®. Read on to find out who stocks the MAP in your locality.
What are Emergency Contraceptive Pills and what are they used for?
ECPs are sometimes called “morning after” pills (MAP). ECPs can be used any time a woman is worried that she might become pregnant. For example, after:
- Unprotected sex
- Mistakes using contraception, such as: Condom was used incorrectly, slipped, or broke
- Delays in taking the daily oral contraceptive pill or missed pills
- Couple incorrectly uses a fertility awareness method (for example, failed to abstain or to use another method during the fertile days)
- Man fails to withdraw, as intended, before he ejaculated
- Sexual assault
- If a woman is worried her coil is no longer in place
In Malta some couples still use natural family planning methods such as withdrawal of the male just prior to ejaculation or by calculating ovulation which offer suboptimal protection at best. The morning after pill allows Maltese couples a second chance. Discuss the possibility of always having one available at home with your trusted pharmacist, more so if you happen to routinely use one of these ‘riskier’ methods as success or failure depends much on how soon after sex the MAP is administered.
Emergency Contraception in Malta
In Malta there are two types of emergency contraceptive pills – those containing levonorgestrel [LNG] or ulipristal acetate; locally, the more popular ones are those containing LNG which go by the name of ESCAPELLE®. [PharmaTrack Malta, May 2020].
Any woman over the age of 16 can buy them after a short consultation with a pharmacist; younger patients who require the MAP are required by law to be accompanied by their legal guardian. Most but not all pharmacists or pharmacies will sell them to you since in Malta pharmacists have a right to conscientious objection.
LNG Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) are Safe and Effective
The LNG ECP has been in use for more than 40 years and are known to be well tolerated; it can be used by women for whom the daily hormonal contraceptive pill is not recommended e.g. it is a suitable emergency contraceptive option in lactating women although lactation should be avoided for at least 8 hours after administration of the pill.
The LNG pill works primarily by preventing or delaying the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation). They do not work if a woman is already pregnant.
Wham spoke to a number of Maltese women who have used the MAP and most reported no side effects at all – a few reported having a longer or shorter period. Most said they would happily use this pill again and found it easy to buy after a short consultation with their trusted pharmacist.
“I can’t use hormonal contraception on an ongoing basis as it negatively affects my moods, so I use natural methods and condoms, however for one off emergency use, I found it did not affect my mood swings” – (Marina, 28 from Swieqi)
Christina 42 from Qormi says “I never thought I would need to use it, and was almost against it when it was first introduced in Malta, however, after my husband was careless one night I thought better I use it just in case.”
When should I take them?
As soon as possible after unprotected sex. The sooner ECPs are taken after unprotected sex, the better they prevent pregnancy. Always remember that ECPs do NOT protect you from sexually transmitted diseases or infections. Only condoms may protect you from STDs.
Other advantages
ECPs offer a second chance at preventing unplanned pregnancy or enable a woman to avoid pregnancy if sex was forced or she was prevented from using contraception. LNG pills can be used by women of any age including adolescents and more than once in a single menstrual cycle if necessary. Do not cause abortion – do not prevent implantation or interfere with an implanted embryo and do not cause birth defects if pregnancy occurs. Are not dangerous to a woman’s health. Do not increase risky sexual behaviour. Do not make women infertile.
Some women reported feeling uncomfortable asking for the Morning After Pill in front of other customers at their local pharmacy, Wham loved one reader’s recommendation of handing over a piece of paper with your request to the pharmacist just like you would with a prescription from your doctor. Our reader told us that…
“On reading the note the pharmacist kindly took me aside, away from the other customers and asked me a couple of questions and recommended I take ESCAPELLE”.
‘Wham’ would like to hear from you if the pharmacy in your locality stocks ESCAPELLE; you can easily check this out for yourself by simply entering the name of your town on the online app below and a list of pharmacies in the area will drop down: https://escapelle.com/how-to-get-escapelle/pharmacy-finder/
Still in doubt whether emergency contraception in Malta (MAP) is abortive or not? Click HERE to read how it works in very simple terms.
