Title: Postcoital contraception: a cover-up story.

POPLINE Document Number: 201601

Author(s):

Van Look PF

Source citation:

In: Fertility regulation today and tomorrow, [edited by] E. Diczfalusy and M. Bygdeman. New York, New York, Raven Press, 1987. :29-42. (Serono Symposia Publications from Raven Press, Volume 36)

Abstract:

Since 1983, there have been few advances made in the search for a postcoital agent suitable for repeated use. The criteria to be fulfilled by such an agent are formidable. The ideal postcoital drug should have the ability to interfere with pre-embryonic development or with implantation, a fairly long duration of action, the capacity to provide full interceptive protection even when taken only once, and a high selectivity of action so that menstrual cyclicity is not disturbed. Such a drug should be safe, cheap, and active in an oral or other easily self-administrable form. Current postcoital methods for emergency use involve either administration of steroid hormones (estrogens or estrogen/progestogen combinations), or insertion of a copper-releasing IUD. No major side effects have been reported following postcoital steroid treatment, except for 1 case of acute pulmonary edema. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, and disturbances of the menstrual cycle. Advantages of the IUD as a postcoital method are its high efficacy and the fact that it can be used up to 5 days after coital exposure (48 hours beyond hormonal methods). Side effects include pain and bleeding, and the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. Also, if this method failed and the IUD were to remain in place, or if an IUD were inserted into the gravid uterus of a pregnant woman, the woman would be subject to an increased risk of spontaneous abortion and of septic mid-trimester abortion.

Keywords:

Developing Countries
Developed Countries
Needs
IUD Side Effects
Diethylstilbestrol
Contraceptive Agents, Postcoital
Postcoital Douching
Fertility Control, Postcoital
Ethinyl Estradiol
Levonorgestrel
Norethindrone
Quingestanol Acetate
Emergency Contraception
Side Effects
Economic Factors
IUD
Contraceptive Methods
Contraception
Family Planning
Estrogens
Hormones
Endocrine System
Physiology
Biology
Contraceptive Agents, Female
Contraceptive Agents
Contraceptive Agents, Estrogen
Contraceptive Agents, Progestin
Treatment