Document Detail


Repeated use of pre- and postcoital hormonal contraception for prevention of pregnancy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20091641     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Repeated use of postcoital hormonal contraception is not currently recommended due to the higher risk of side effects and lower contraceptive effectiveness compared to other modern methods of contraception. However, emerging evidence indicates renewed interest in a regular coitally-dependent method of oral contraception. We re-evaluated the existing data on safety and effectiveness of pericoital use of levonorgestrel and other hormonal drugs to prevent pregnancy. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness and safety of repeated use of pre- and postcoital hormonal contraception for pregnancy prevention SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the computerized databases MEDLINE, POPLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, EMBASE and CENTRAL for trials that tested repeated pre- and postcoital use of hormonal drugs for pregnancy prevention. We also searched for current trials via ClinicalTrials.gov and ICTRP. SELECTION CRITERIA: Published and unpublished studies in any language of repeated postcoital or immediately precoital use of hormonal drugs for contraception with pregnancy as an outcome DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently confirmed the eligibility and extracted data from the included studies. We calculated confidence intervals (CI) around individual study Pearl indices using a Poisson distribution. We presented individual study estimates and pooled estimates and their 95% CI, where appropriate. MAIN RESULTS: We found 21 trials that evaluated pericoital use of LNG and other hormonal drugs on a regular basis to prevent pregnancy. Pericoital levonorgestrel (LNG) was reasonably efficacious and safe. The pooled Pearl Index for the 0.75 mg dose of LNG was 5.1 per 100 woman-years (WY) (95% CI 3.8 to 6.7). The pooled Pearl Index for all doses of LNG was 4.9 per 100 WY (95% CI 4.3 to 5.5). Other hormonal drugs appeared promising but most of them were not studied extensively. Most women liked the pericoital method in spite of frequent menstrual irregularities. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The studies of pericoital LNG regimens provided promising results but had a number of serious methodological limitations. A pressing need exits to conduct a rigorous research to confirm the efficacy and safety of pericoital use of LNG as a primary means of contraception among women with infrequent intercourse. If the method is shown to be efficacious, safe and acceptable, the results may warrant revision of the current WHO recommendations and marketing strategies.
Authors:
Vera Halpern; Elizabeth G Raymond; Laureen M Lopez
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Meta-Analysis; Review     Date:  2010-01-20
Journal Detail:
Title:  Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online)     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1469-493X     ISO Abbreviation:  Cochrane Database Syst Rev     Publication Date:  2010  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-01-21     Completed Date:  2010-04-16     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100909747     Medline TA:  Cochrane Database Syst Rev     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  CD007595     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Behavioral and Biomedical Research, Family Health International, PO Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA, NC 27709.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Coitus*
Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / administration & dosage*,  adverse effects
Contraceptives, Postcoital / administration & dosage*,  adverse effects
Female
Humans
Levonorgestrel / administration & dosage*,  adverse effects
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; 0/Contraceptives, Postcoital; 797-63-7/Levonorgestrel

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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