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Women who do not have contraindications for oral contraceptives (OCs) and have experienced failure of their contraceptive method or used no contraceptive at all an use emergency postcoital contraceptive pills (ECPs). In fact, if used correctly, they could prevent 1.7 million unplanned pregnancies each year which is 50% lower than such pregnancies which already occur each year. They could also reduce the number of annual induced abortions by 50% from (1.6 million to 800,000). Various postcoital treatments in the US are 2 pills of Ovral within 72 hours of intercourse then 2 more pills 12 hours later and 4 pills of either Lo/Ovral, Nordette, Levlen, Triphasil, or Tri-Levlen followed by 4 more pills 12 hours later. Some gynecologists contend that any low-dose combined OC could be used as an ECP, but not study proves this. Besides, providers who do so risk a malpractice suit, because postcoital contraception is not on OC labels. An attorney suggests using OCs only for an emergency and to document all attempts at informed consent. Many children and clinicians have limited or no knowledge about ECPs. Those health providers who are familiar with them tend not to prescribe them because they fear legal actions. ECP side effects include severe nausea or vomiting, headache, breast tenderness,, dizziness, and fluid retention. These effects are not as great as the health risks of unplanned pregnancies, however. Yet, they are unpleasant enough to discourage repeated ECP use. Use of different methods of determining the number of pregnancies has resulted in broad ECP effectiveness rates (0-96% and 56-94%). Another analysis using combined data from the studies yielding the various results shows the effectiveness rate to be 75%. Anti-abortion groups may object to ECP use, just as they do for RU-486 which has fewer side effects, because one of its mechanisms of preventing pregnancy is it prevents implantation.
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PMID:Postcoital pills could cut unplanned pregnancies by half. 1231 83

35 predominantly multiparous, sexually active women aged 25-44 years were fitted with levonorgestrel 20 T (Schering) IUDS in the post- menstrual phase, or in rare instances, right after abortion. the devices contained 60 mg of levonorgestrel releasing 20 mcg/day with the life span of 5 years. The patients were followed up every 3-6 months to detect side effects and complications. The first year contained a total of 339 months of observation, while the figure rose to 461 months in the second year. Spotting lasting 15-20 days followed insertion, but in later months only 7% of patients complained of bleeding or menstrual spotting. 7-8% of cases tended to have oligomenorrhea in the first year; 1/3 to 1/2 of them had hypomenorrhea during the first and second year. True amenorrhea started in 20-30% of women, persisting through both years. Longer duration of flow occurred in 32.4-4.57.1% of cases during these 2 years. Hormonal effects (headache, acne, hirsutism, depression, mastalgia, and inflamed varicose veins) ranged from 18.2- 33.3%. Levonorgestrel 20 T demonstrated more superior contraceptive efficacy than Progestasert; however, serious menstrual cycle disorders associated with it also increased. All progestin-releasing devices (the minipill, Norplant, Progestasert) induced menstrual changes, thus their use is preferable for therapeutic indications such as hypermenorrhea and uterine fibroid.
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PMID:[Two-year clinical performance of the Levonorgestrel 20 T IUD]. 1231 72

The Norplant System of levonorgestrel implants and the Depo Provera contraceptive Injection of sterile medroxy progesterone acetate suspension (DMPA) are longterm, progestagen-based contraceptive delivery systems designed to overcome noncompliance which are under review for use in Canada. 150 mg of DMPA, a pregnane compound derived from progesterone, is injected every 3 months. Peak plasma concentrations are reached in 24 hours and plateau for 3-4 months before gradually declining. After termination, ovulation returns on average in 4.5 months, and conception occurs at a median time of 10 months. 90% conceive by 24 months. In the Norplant system, a steady daily supply of 50-80 mcg of levonorgestrel, a gonane progestin derived from the testosterone nucleus which has both progestogenic and androgenic receptor affinity, diffuses from 5 Silastic implants, which must be replaced every 5 years. Ovulation and fertility return rapidly after rod removal. The actual and lowest expected failure rates are equal for both systems. The failure rate for DMPA is .3 pregnancies per 100 women years, while that for levonorgestrel is .4% in 1 year. Although neither method affects blood pressure, DMPA appears to affect carbohydrate metabolism by impairing glucose tolerance and increasing insulin production. Lipid metabolism is also affected. 5% of those who use levonorgestrel discontinue it because of side effects, including headache, mastodynia, and acne; 19.1% of DMPA users did so, especially for weight gain and menstrual cycle abnormalities. Both methods have a higher frequency of menstrual abnormalities than normal. 27.7% of levonorgestrel users experienced prolonged bleeding, while 17% experienced spotting during the first 6 months. However, normal menses usually returned within a year, and only 7.9% discontinued use because of cycle abnormalities. In 1 study, less than 10% of DMPA users experienced normal cycles, and in another study 35% experienced amenorrhea (500/700 discontinued use). Amenorrhea replaced irregular bleeding with continued use, occurring in 68% of users by 2 years. There is also some concern about DMPA and breast cancer and bone loss. Based on 1 case-control study of 110 women with breast cancer who had taken DMPA, the relative risk is highest for those between ages 25 and 34 who use DMPA longer than 6 years. A WHO study concluded that the relative risk of developing breast cancer, because of DMPA, is inversely related to duration of use. A Phase IV study on DMPA and bone mineral density has been undertaken.
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PMID:A comparison of levonorgestrel implants with depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate injections for contraception. 1231 30

Oral contraceptive (OCs) users continue to complain of side effects such as headaches, mood swings, and weight gain, and switch pill formulations. Questionnaires for an annual oral contraceptive survey were mailed to subscribers in the May 1992 issue of Contraceptive Technology Update (CTU) 137 of 1600 surveys mailed were returned for a response rate of 8.5%. 64% of the respondents were nurse practitioners, 19% were physicians, 7% were physician assistants, 5% were registered nurses, and 5% were other types of providers. OC users tend to blame headaches, mood swings, or gaining weight on the pills. The CTU survey found that more than 60% of health care providers would advocate switching to a lower-dose estrogen pill or to a progestin-only pill for headaches and mood swings. For weight gain their first choice of treatment would be counseling about life style changes. 50-60% of American women discontinue OCs in the first year, mainly because of side effects such as breakthrough bleeding, headaches, nausea, weight gain, and acne. 89% of respondents said few women had sever, recurring headaches, but should that occur 66% of respondents would change to a lower-dose estrogen pill. Only 9% of respondents would recommend relaxation exercises and analgesics. 67% of respondents would change the pill formulation before suggesting a life style change when patients complain about mood swings. Ortho Novum 7/7/7 was the pill of choice for 61% of survey respondents, and Triphasil was the 2nd choice by 43%. An international group of physicians recommended that manufacturers, physicians, and OC providers take the lead in providing patients with acceptable counseling concerning correct OC use.
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PMID:Experts debate pill switching to combat noncompliance. Special report: annual pill survey. 1234 22

Levonorgestrel-releasing implants are long acting contraceptives, approved for 5 years of continuous use. Two marketed systems, the six capsule Norplant use of tradenames is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement. and the two rod Jadelle, have essentially equal rates of drug release, pregnancy and adverse events over 5 years of use. Randomised clinical trials and controlled cohort observations indicate that for the first 3 years, when pregnancy rates are at or almost zero, no other contraceptive system is more effective, although etonogestrel implants provide equal effectiveness. Annual pregnancy rates rise in the fifth year of continuous use but remain below 1 per 100 women. Annual pregnancy rates of Norplant users remain below 1 per 100 throughout 7 years of continuous use. Levonorgestrel implants provide low progestogen doses; 40-50 microg/day at 1 year of use, decreasing to 25-30 microg/day in the fifth year. Serum levels of levonorgestrel at 5 years are 60-65% of those levels measured at 1 month of use. Adverse effects with levonorgestrel implants are similar to those observed with progestogen only and combined oral contraceptives. Risks of ectopic pregnancy, other pregnancy complications and pelvic inflammatory disease are reduced in comparison with those of women using copper or non-medicated intrauterine devices. Risks of developing gallbladder disease and hypertension or borderline hypertension, although small, are about 1.5 and 1.8 times greater, respectively, in women using levonorgestrel implants than in women not using hormonal contraception. Other serious diseases have not been found to occur significantly more frequently in levonorgestrel implant users than in women not using hormonal contraception. The great majority of levonorgestrel implant users experience menstrual problems, but serious bleeding problems are not more frequent than in controls. Other health problems reported more frequently by levonogestrel implant users than by women not using hormonal contraception in a study of 16000 women included skin conditions, headache, upper limb neuropathies, dizziness, nervousness, malaise, minor visual disturbances, respiratory conditions, arthropathies, weight change, anxiety and non-clinical depression. Clinical depression is not more frequent in women using implants compared with those not using hormonal contraception (i.e. using intrauterine devices, sterilisation). Removal problems occur less frequently with Jadelle than with Norplant. The mean removal time for Jadelle is half that of Norplant. Levonorgestrel implants in nationally representative scientific samples, in randomised trials, and in controlled cohort studies have continuation rates as high as or higher than any other reversible contraceptive over a duration of 5 years. This would imply that the satisfaction women derive from the contraceptive effectiveness of levonorgestrel implants greatly outweighs the dissatisfaction that may accompany menstrual disturbances and other adverse effects associated with implants.
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PMID:Risks and benefits, advantages and disadvantages of levonorgestrel-releasing contraceptive implants. 1265 Jun 33

Ortho Evra is the first transdermal patch approved for the prevention of pregnancy. Comparative trials have shown that Ortho Evra has efficacy similar to the oral contraceptives Mercilon (not available in the United States) and Triphasil for the prevention of pregnancy when used as directed. Adverse effects with Ortho Evra are similar to those reported with combined oral contraceptives, with the exceptions of mild-to-moderate application-site reactions and an increased frequency of breast symptoms. The most commonly reported adverse reactions were breast symptoms, headache, application-site reactions, nausea and vomiting, dysmenorrhea, and abdominal pain. Approximately 5% of study subjects had at least one patch that did not stay attached to their skin, and about 2% of women withdrew from clinical trials due to irritation from the patch. In clinical studies, the patch appeared to be less effective in women weighing more than 90 kg than in women with lower body weights. More research is needed on the relationship between body weight and contraceptive patch efficacy. In two clinical trials, compliance was greater with the patch than with oral contraceptives. Whether this will result in reduced pregnancy rates in general use is unknown. Additional studies are warranted to determine if the patch offers any significant efficacy or safety advantages over current methods of hormonal contraception.
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PMID:Ortho Evra, a new contraceptive patch. 1268 Apr 77

In response to the need of some women for long-acting, effective and safe contraceptives, the scientific community developed non-biodegradable progestational subdermal implants that act by making the cervical mucus viscous, with ovulation inhibition and thinning of the endometrial lining. The contraceptive protection is within 24 hours and the cumulative failure rate is low. Contraceptive implants require little or no motivation following adequate counselling. In current use are multirod implants (Norplant I and Norplant II Jadelle) and single rod implant (Implanon and Uniplant). Although menstrual symptoms associated with progestational regimens are the major compliance and acceptability factors within the first year of use, menstrual disturbance generally improves. Continuation rates for implant use are high among those who have had adequate pre-insertion counselling because the perceived advantages greatly outweigh the nuisance effects. Other side effects of implants are similar to those observed with hormonal pills--headache, weight changes, mood swings and abdominal bloating. Training of physicians and nurses in the art of insertion and removal techniques is a pre-requisite for a successful implant programme. This should also be backed by integration of implants into the national commodity logistics systems to ensure adequate local budgetary provision for contraceptive implant procurement rather than reliance on donor supply.
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PMID:Contraceptive implants. 1610 51

Emergency contraception may avoid pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or when regular contraceptive measures fail. Levonorgestrel, a synthetic gestagen, is recommended for emergency contraception as a single 1.5-mg dose or, alternatively, two 0.75-mg doses taken 12 h apart. Its efficacy is moderate, preventing about 80% of pregnancies. Efficacy is higher the earlier after unprotected intercourse the drug is taken, but it may be administered up to 5 days post-coitum. Tolerance is similar to, or better than, those of other oral emergency contraceptives. Adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, breast tenderness and transient alteration of menstrual bleeding pattern. It is not known whether levonogestrel increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy when the treatment fails. Its use as an ongoing contraceptive method is discouraged. When given before the preovulatory LH peak, levonorgestrel blocks or delays ovulation. It may also affect sperm migration in the female reproductive tract and have an effect on fertilization. Although it has been often postulated, there is no evidence for an anti-implantatory effect. Acquaintance with the method is quite variable among different societies, but it remains underutilized even where it is well known. Advance provision of the drug has been proposed as a way to promote its use. In clinical trials, advance provision did not adversely modify sexual or regular contraceptive behavior, but it did not reduce pregnancy or abortion rate either. Therefore, emergency contraception with levonorgestrel should be regarded as a backup method which is not a substitute for the continued use of more effective contraceptive methods.
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PMID:[Emergency contraception with levonorgestrel]. 1805 Dec 34


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