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Auricular Point Acupressure Therapy: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Postsurgical Abortion Recovery

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Emergency contraception: a review.

Carlo Bastianelli¹, Manuela Farris, G Benagiano

¹Department of Gynaecologic Sciences, Perinatology and Child Care, University la Sapienza, Rome, Italy. carlo.bastianelli@uniroma1.it

The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care : the Official Journal of the European Society of Contraception

|February 20, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex. Levonorgestrel is more effective and has fewer side effects than older hormonal methods, while copper intrauterine devices offer highly effective, long-term prevention.

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Area of Science:

Reproductive Health
Pharmacology

Background:

Emergency contraception (EC) provides a crucial option for pregnancy prevention post-unprotected intercourse.
Both hormonal and intrauterine methods are available, with evolving efficacy and side effect profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the development and comparative effectiveness of different emergency contraception modalities.
To highlight advancements in hormonal EC and the role of intrauterine devices.

Main Methods:

Review of historical development of hormonal EC regimens (Yuzpe, levonorgestrel, mifepristone).
Analysis of clinical trial data comparing efficacy and side effects of different EC methods.
Examination of intrauterine EC, specifically copper devices, for pregnancy prevention.

Main Results:

Levonorgestrel monotherapy is more effective and better tolerated than the older Yuzpe regimen.
Mifepristone-based regimens have also been explored by the WHO.
Copper intrauterine devices (IUDs) demonstrate very low pregnancy rates (0.1-0.2%) when used as EC, acting by preventing implantation.

Conclusions:

Levonorgestrel represents an improved hormonal EC option.
Copper IUDs offer a highly effective, albeit more complex, form of emergency contraception with a primary mechanism of preventing implantation.