Interventions for emergency contraception.
OBJECTIVE
To determine which emergency contraceptive method following unprotected intercourse is the most effective, safe and convenient for use in preventing pregnancy.


METHODS
The search strategy included electronic searches of the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Popline, Chinese biomedical databases and HRP emergency contraception database. In addition, references of retrieved papers were searched and researchers in the field and two pharmaceutical companies were contacted.


METHODS
Randomized or quasi-randomized studies including women attending services for emergency contraception following a single act of unprotected intercourse were eligible.


METHODS
Data on outcomes and trial characteristics were extracted in duplicate by two reviewers. Results were expressed as relative risk using a fixed-effects model with 95 % confidence interval.


RESULTS
Fifteen trials were included in the review. The majority (8/15) of the trials were conducted in China. Most comparisons between different interventions included one or two trials although some trials were appropriately sized with power calculations. Levonorgestrel appears to be more effective than Yuzpe regimen (2 trials, RR: 0.51, 95 % CI: 0.31-0.84) and causes less side-effects (RR: 0.80, 95 % CI: 0.76 to 0.84). Levonorgestrel was less effective than locally manufactured mifepristone in a single, large Chinese study (RR: 2.17, 95 % CI: 1.00 to 4.77). Effectiveness of different doses of mifepristone seem to be similar but the frequency of delay in onset of the subsequent menstrual period increases with increased dose.


CONCLUSIONS
Levonorgestrel and mifepristone seem to offer the highest efficacy with an acceptable side-effect profile. One disadvantage of mifepristone is that it causes delays in onset of subsequent menses which may induce anxiety. However, this seems to be dose-related and low doses of mifepristone minimise this side-effect without compromising effectiveness. Future studies should compare the effectiveness of mifepristone with levonorgestrel.
Cheng
L
L
UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, 1211-Geneva 27, SWITZERLAND. gulmezoglum@who.ch
Gülmezoglu
A M
AM
Ezcurra
E
E
Van Look
P F
PF
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D015735:Mifepristone
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D015735:Mifepristone; D016912:Levonorgestrel