UPA and LNG, what women need to know about emergency contraception
Let’s start with an important clarification: emergency contraception should not be confused with the abortion pill (RU 486) for two reasons, the first that RU 486 is not on sale in pharmacies, it is only a hospital practice, the second that emergency contraception it does not interrupt a pregnancy, but it prevents it
Features of emergency contraception pills
The names that have the two drugs used for oral emergency contraception authorized in Italy, i.e. “five-day-after pill”, for ulipristal acetate (UPA), and “morning-after pill”, for levonorgestrel (LNG) could derive misleading and suggest that the two drugs may have the same efficacy if taken within 120 or 72 hours respectively of unprotected sexual intercourse for various causes.
In reality, both drugs must be taken as soon as possible, to be able to delay ovulation in the most effective way.
The misunderstanding could arise from the fact that ulipristal acetate (ellaone, evante, etc..) and levonorgestrel (norlevo) have different efficacy.
When given during the late follicular phase, around the LH surge and ovulation:
- UPA (5 days after pill) is able to delay ovulation for at least 5 days in 59% of cycles
- while LNG (morning-after pill) is no different than placebo in inhibiting follicle rupture (ovulation) at this late stage of the ovarian cycle.
And the average time from treatment to follicle rupture is six days, with ulipristal acetate, compared to two days, with levonorgestrel.
But since ovulation is an unpredictable phenomenon, even in women with regular cycles, it is difficult to predict when the woman is most at risk of experiencing an unwanted pregnancy after unprotected intercourse and for this reason it is important to take contraception d oral emergency as soon as possible.
Also because, neither of the two contraceptive treatments is effective when administered on the day of the luteinizing hormone peak, which leads to ovulation.
The safety profile of UPA is comparable to LNG, with mainly mild adverse events.
How effective are emergency contraception methods?
As far as efficacy is concerned, GLASIER et al., highlighted that UPA is able to approximately halve the risk of experiencing an unwanted pregnancy compared to LNG within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse,
These findings therefore led the researchers to recommend that healthcare professionals, who may be tempted to prescribe Ulipristal acetate (UPA) only to women presenting within 72 hours of unprotected sex and those at greatest risk of pregnancy, provide however, ulipristal acetate is always the most effective method, also because women may not be sure of the moment of the menstrual cycle in which they had unprotected intercourse.
Bibliographical references
GLASIER A. Lancet 2010 and BRACHE V. Contraception 2013
Read Also
Emergency Live Even More…Live: Download The New Free App Of Your Newspaper For IOS And Android
Vaginal Candida: Causes, Symptoms And Prevention
Colposcopy: How To Prepare, How It Is Performed, When It Is Important
Cystitis: Symptoms, Causes And Remedies
Cystitis, Antibiotics Are Not Always Necessary: We Discover Non-Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Signs, Symptoms And Treatment
Female Cystitis, How To Deal With It: Urological Perspectives
How Does Cystitis Manifest Itself?
Cervical Cancer: The Importance Of Prevention
Vulvodynia: What Are The Symptoms And How To Treat It
What Is Vulvodynia? Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment: Talk To The Expert
Accumulation Of Fluid In The Peritoneal Cavity: Possible Causes And Symptoms Of Ascites
What’s Causing Your Abdominal Pain And How To Treat It
Pelvic Varicocele: What It Is And How To Recognise The Symptoms
Can Endometriosis Cause Infertility?
Transvaginal Ultrasound: How It Works And Why It Is Important
Candida Albicans And Other Forms Of Vaginitis: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
What Is Vulvovaginitis? Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment
Urinary Tract Infections: Symptoms And Diagnosis Of Cystitis
Cervical Cancer Screening, THINPrep And Pap Test: What Is The Difference?
Diagnostic And Operative Hysteroscopy: When Is It Necessary?
Techniques And Instruments For Performing Hysteroscopy
The Use Of Outpatient Hysteroscopy For Early Diagnosis
Utero-Vaginal Prolapse: What Is The Indicated Treatment?
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: What It Is And How To Treat It
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Risk Factors
Salpingitis: Causes And Complications Of This Fallopian Tube Inflammation
Hysterosalpingography: Preparation And Usefulness Of The Examination
Gynaecological Cancers: What To Know To Prevent Them
Infections Of The Bladder Mucosa: Cystitis
Colposcopy: The Test Of The Vagina And Cervix
Colposcopy: What It Is And What It Is For
Vaginal Candida, Symptoms And How To Treat It
Vaginal Candida: Symptoms, Cause And Treatment