Post-coital contraception: an overview of published studies
Fasoli, M.; Parazzini, F.; Cecchetti, G.; La Vecchia, C.
Contraception 39(4): 459-468
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-7824 PMID: 2656085 DOI: 10.1016/0010-7824(89)90123-6Document Number: 361196
Information from published studies testing the effect of hormonal and mechanical interceptive methods in post-coital contraception was pooled with the aim of assessing the efficacy of various regimens. The pooled failure rates were 0.6% (19/3168 based on four studies) for high-dosage ethinylestradiol, 1.1% (11/975, based on two studies) for other high-dose estrogens, 1.8% (69/3802 based on 11 studies) for combined estro-progestin preparations, 2.0% (20/998 based on three studies) for danazol and 0.1% (1/879 based on nine studies) for intra-uterine devices (IUD). Although this overview has several limitations in terms of over-representation of optimistic results in the literature or absence of direct comparison between treatments in several studies, it suggests that IUD and high-dose ethinylestradiol are more efficacious forms of post-coital contraception than danazol or combined contraceptives.