Scientists have named a new effective emergency contraception
Intrauterine drugs, which contain the hormone levonorgestrel, have shown extremely high efficiency as means of emergency contraception.
Emergency contraception is a pregnancy prevention method used after unprotected intercourse. As a rule, hormonal drugs (tablets) are used for this, as well as intrauterine devices (IUDs).
The most effective method of emergency contraception is using copper-containing IUD. The effectiveness of such intrauterine devices exceeds 99%. Their use is not recommended when a woman suffers from inflammatory processes of the pelvic organs, sexually transmitted infections. An intrauterine device is a relatively expensive and long-term method of contraception that may not be suitable for every woman.
Hormonal intrauterine devices
Scientists first evaluated the effectiveness of such a method of emergency corporation as intrauterine drugs containing the hormone levonorgestrel. They compared the effectiveness of two types of intrauterine devices - hormonal and copper.
The experiment involved 638 women who applied for emergency contraception at 3 clinics in Utah. At the same time, 50% of them used intrauterine devices with copper, and the other half - hormonal ones.
Among those who used hormonal IUDs, one woman became pregnant (0.3%). And in the group of intrauterine devices with copper no pregnancies were recorded. According to experts, both types of IUDs have approximately the same effectiveness. These drugs are more effective than oral hormonal contraceptives (their effectiveness is 95%).
When can you use emergency contraception?
● unprotected sex;
● incorrect use of contraceptives (for example, a condom tears);
● worries about the effectiveness of the contraceptive (IUD expulsion, skipping the combined hormonal contraceptive);
● sexual assault.