Bleeding patterns after use of levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pills.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to describe bleeding after use of an emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) regimen consisting of 1.5 mg of levonorgestrel in a single dose.


METHODS
We asked 120 women who had been treated with the regimen to keep daily bleeding diaries for 9 weeks. We compared bleeding patterns observed after treatment with usual patterns reported by the participants and with patterns observed in a prior study on women who had not taken ECPs.


RESULTS
Treatment in the first 3 weeks of the menstrual cycle significantly shortened that cycle as compared both with the usual cycle length and with the cycle duration in a comparison group. The magnitude of this effect was greater the earlier the pills were taken. In contrast, the duration of the first menstrual period after treatment increased significantly with cycle week of treatment and was longer in women who used the treatment than in those who did not. Intermenstrual bleeding occurred in only 5% of women in the first cycle after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of the single-dose levonorgestrel ECP regimen on the timing and duration of the next menstrual period depends on when during the cycle the pills are taken. Intermenstrual bleeding following treatment is uncommon.
Family Health International, PO Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. eraymond@fhi.org
Elizabeth G
EG
Raymond
Alisa
A
Goldberg
James
J
Trussell
Melissa
M
Hays
Elizabeth
E
Roach
Douglas
D
Taylor
D000328:Adult; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology
D016912:Levonorgestrel