Women who need emergency contraception should be advised to use the coil rather than the pill, according to new English guidelines.
Women should also be given information about the coil as well as the pill when they ask for contraception, the guidance says.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says its new advice is intended to empower women.
It says that women may find intra-uterine devices to be a more convenient form of long-term contraception than pills.
According to the latest figures, 95% of emergency contraception was issued in pill form.
But NICE says a copper IUD is more effective.
GP Dr Jan Wake, who helped draw up the guidelines, said: “The advantage of the coil, on top of being more effective is that it can be retained and used as long term contraception, some can even be left in place for ten years.
“Timing however is essential and women deciding on the coil should make contact with the clinic they have been advised to attend as soon as is possible.”
Professor Gillian Leng, from NICE, said: “It is really important that all contraceptive services are providing women with the best advice about contraception.
“We want to empower women with the best information about all methods of contraception and their effectiveness so they can make an informed decision.
“For instance women are often surprised by how soon after birth they can become fertile again so we have included a statement ensuring midwives speak to them about contraception.
“We also want to ensure women are told the coil is more effective than the pill as emergency contraception.”
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