title: Efficacy of a combined contraceptive regimen consisting of condoms and emergency contraception pills.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the combined regimen (consisting of condoms and emergency contraception pills (ECP)) and using condoms only for the purpose of preventing pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-thousand-five-hundred-and-sixty-two (1,562) couples as volunteers enrolled at nine centers in Shanghai. Eight-hundred-and-twelve (812) were randomized to use male condoms and ECP (i.e., Levonorgestrel) as a back-up to condoms (the intervention group) and 750 to use male condoms only(the control group), according to their working unit. Participants were visited at admission and at the end of 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The cumulative life table rates were calculated for pregnancy and other reasons for discontinuation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gross cumulative life table rates showed that the cumulative discontinuation rates for all reasons during the year of follow-up in the condoms plus emergency contraception group and the condoms only group were 7.76 ± 0.94 and 6.61 ± 0.91, respectively, per 100 women (χ2 = 0.41, p = 0.5227). The cumulative gross pregnancy rate of the condoms plus emergency contraception group and the condoms only group were 2.17 ± 0.52 and 1.25 ± 0.41, respectively, per 100 women (χ2 = 1.93, p = 0.1645). The Pearl Index in the condoms plus emergency contraception group and the condoms only group were 2.21% and 1.26%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male condoms remain a highly effective contraceptive method for a period of one year while consistently and correctly used. In addition, the lowest pregnancy rate followed from perfect use condom.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research/WHO Collaborating Center on Human Research, Shanghai 200032, China. wujq1688@163.com.
authors.forename: Jun-Qing
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hong-Lei
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Yi-Ran
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D017280:Condoms; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011247:Pregnancy; D021841:Safe Sex
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital
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