[A prospective study of the provision of emergency contraception in French family planning centers].
OBJECTIVE
To describe emergency contraception provision, including the efficacy of the method, in family planning centers in suburban Paris two years after the method became available without a prescription.


METHODS
A prospective study involving two questionnaires was conducted between September 2001 and July 2002 in 27 family planning centers in the Val-de-Marne region. The first questionnaire was completed at the time emergency contraception was dispensed and the second one upon a follow-up visit. Efficacy was calculated for both perfect use (only one act of unprotected intercourse in the current menstrual cycle, emergency contraception treatment initiated within 72 hours) and typical use (including multiple acts of unprotected intercourse in the cycle and/or treatment initiated after 72 hours).


RESULTS
A total of 519 requests for emergency contraception was recorded, resulting in the provision of 518 treatments. The women requesting emergency contraception were young (96% under the age of 25) and cited unprotected intercourse and problems with condom use as the main reasons for the request. Information regarding the outcome of emergency contraception treatment was available in 77% of the cases, and a failure rate of 1.9% was observed with perfect use and 2.7% with typical use.


CONCLUSIONS
This prospective study of emergency contraception prescription in family planning centers confirms data on the efficacy and safety of the method observed in similar environments. The failure rate associated with typical use is higher than that observed with perfect use.
Gainer
E
E
Inserm U 569, hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. e.gainer@hra-pharma.com
Prudhomme
M
M
Perriot
Y
Y
Leroux
M-C
MC
Bouyer
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome