[Emergency contraception with levonorgestrel in adolescents].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to asses effectiveness and adverse reactions in adolescent girls received Postinor (0.75 mg Levonorgestrel) for emergency contraception.


METHODS
Forty-two teenage girls with established regular menstrual cycles for 24 months period and 128 intercourses are included. Excluding criteria are: clinical data for gynecological endocrine diseases, other contraceptive methods used and contraindication for using gestagens. The girls received tablets Postinor containing 0.75 mg levonorgestrel in dosage 1 or 2 pills after non-protected sexual contact. Before the study the girls are examined for their knowledge about fertile period of the menstrual cycle, opportunities of hormonal contraception and about their ability to make adequate decisions in unpredicted situations and complications of the unprotected or inadequate protected intercourse.


RESULTS
No one pregnancy occurred during the study period. Main first adverse reactions after receiving Postinor were nausea (12.4%) and intermenstrual bleeding (30.9%), persisting up to three days. Systemic adverse reactions reported from the women were breast tenderness (11.2%), dizziness (6.5%) and headache (5.6%). These side effects were mild and did not require treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Emergency contraception with Levonorgestrel is effective, with less contraindications compared with other emergency contraception methods. Postinor is available and reliable contraceptive medication.
Tanchev
S
S
Shentov
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000379:methods*; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003283:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*
D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D003283:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Synthetic; D016912:Levonorgestrel