Emergency contraception

The first emergency contraceptives used to prevent pregnancy were douches; understandably these were not very successful. In the 1960s the first hormonal post-coital preparations used contained oestrogen only. This was replaced in 1983 by Yupze regimen, which contained oestrogen and progestogen and had to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse and was known as Schering PC4.