title: Research on mifepristone and levonorgestrel in comparison with the Yuzpe regimen.
abstract: Women should be informed that it is possible to prevent unwanted pregnancy after intercourse in most cases by effective emergency contraception (EC). The currently used hormonal method, the Yuzpe regimen, however, has unpleasant side effects. The UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research training in Human Reproduction has worked on developing improved methods of EC for the last ten years. This research has focused on levonorgestrel and mifepristone. Now that results from large clinical studies are becoming available, they suggest that both these compounds are better tolerated and appear even more effective than the Yuzpe regimen. The challenge now is to implement the research results by making better emergency contraceptives a reality for women.
authors.affiliation: UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Geneva.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: von Hertzen
mesh_terms: D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004630:Emergencies; D045166:Estradiol Congeners / Q000009:adverse effects; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D015735:Mifepristone; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D015735:Mifepristone; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel