Methodological Review of the Effectiveness of Emergency Contraception

Authors: Stanford, Joseph B.; Mikolajczyk, Rafael T.

Source: Current Women's Health Reviews, Volume 1, Number 2, June 2005 , pp. 119-129(11)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

Accurate estimates of the effectiveness of hormonal emergency contraception (EC) are important for public policy and clinical application. Because there are no randomized trials of emergency contraception, observational studies with historical controls are employed to estimate effectiveness. There are many methodologic issues that can influence estimates of effectiveness, with multiple opportunities for bias. These include issues around use of EC and follow-up, selection of women for study, the historical reference population used for estimates of expected pregnancies, and the statistical approaches used to derive estimates of expected pregnancies. We discuss how the different sources of bias, including previously unrecognized sources, may affect existing estimates and make suggestions for future methodologic improvements to estimate effectiveness.

Keywords: hormonal emergency contraception (ec); pregnancy; ovulation; menstrual cycles; coitus

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573404054064511

Affiliations: 1: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Health Research Center, 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108, USA.

Publication date: 2005-06-01

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Current Women's Health Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on obstetrics and gynecology. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all clinicians and researchers in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology.