2023-09-07 08:00:51
Three to 5 days is the maximum period during which emergency contraception can be used following unprotected or poorly protected sexual intercourse. According to a recent study published in the scientific journal The Lancet, taking emergency hormonal contraception would be more effective once morest the risk of unwanted pregnancy, if it is associated with taking an analgesic drug. Explanations.
What is emergency contraception?
In the field of contraception the emergency contraception occupies a special place. It must be used no later than 3 to 5 days following unprotected or poorly protected sexual intercourse to limit the risk of unwanted pregnancy. Currently, two emergency contraception devices are available in France:
- Taking emergency hormonal contraceptionbetter known as morning following pill ;
- Placement of a copper intrauterine device.
Emergency hormonal contraception consists of taking a single tablet at any time during the menstrual cycle, as soon as possible following unprotected or poorly protected intercourse. In any case, it does not constitute a regular method of contraception. Two types of morning following pills are available:
- The levonorgestrel pill to be taken within a maximum of 72 hours following intercourse;
- The ulipristal acetate pill to be taken within 96 hours.
Less well known, the insertion of a copper IUD within 96 hours of intercourse is the most effective method of emergency contraception, but it is less accessible in practice, given the delays in appointments with patients. health professionals.
Simultaneously take an anti-inflammatory and the morning following pill
The effectiveness of emergency hormonal contraception depends on several parameters, in particular the time elapsed between unprotected or poorly protected intercourse and taking the morning following pill, the time of the menstrual cycle and the active substance of the pill. In the case of the levonorgestrel pill, its effectiveness is reduced if it is administered following ovulation. In a new study, Chinese researchers assessed whether the concomitant intake of a anti-inflammatory drugpiroxicam, might improve the effectiveness of the levonorgestrel pill.
A total of 860 women were included between August 2018 and August 2022, all of whom needed the levonorgestrel morning-following pill within 72 hours of unprotected or poorly protected intercourse. Half of them received a single dose of 40 mg of piroxicam at the same time as the pill, while the other half received a placebo.
To know ! In France, piroxicam is used in the composition of several medicinal products intended
anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic, indicated in second intention in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
Nearly 95% of pregnancies avoided thanks to the association
The women were then followed for several weeks, in particular to assess the effectiveness of emergency contraception through the development of a possible pregnancy. In the group of women treated with piroxicam in addition to the morning following pill, only one woman was pregnant (0.2%), compared to 7 women (1.7%) in the placebo group. According to the researchers’ calculations, the combination of the morning following pill with piroxicam prevented 94.7% of expected pregnancies, compared to only 63.4% with the morning following pill alone.
This study suggests that the association of an anti-inflammatory drug might reinforce the effectiveness of hormonal emergency contraception with levonogestrel. A larger study is now needed to assess the safety of such an association, understand the underlying mechanisms and determine the possibility of extending this association to all women.
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
Sources
– What methods of emergency contraception? www.ameli.fr. Accessed August 21, 2023.
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