Pregnancy prophylaxis: parenteral postcoital estrogen

A two-dose regimen of intravenous conjugated estrogen as a postcoital interceptive was studied retrospectively. One hundred eighteen women who presented themselves at the Louisville General Hospital emergency room with a history of involuntary intercourse received 50 mg of intravenous conjugated estrogen at the conclusion of their initial medical evaluation and a second 50-mg injection approximately 24 hours later. Three pregnancies occurred among the 92 women who were seen again 30 days or more after treatment. These women reported other episodes of unprotected intercourse in the treatment cycle. Twenty-six of the women treated were lost to follow-up. Complaints of side effects were uncommon. In this series, intravenous conjugated estrogen appears to have been acceptable management for women who had been raped if no other unprotected intercourse had taken place in the treatment cycle.