• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Emergency contraception. Washington (DC): American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); 2005 Dec. 10 p. (ACOG practice bulletin; no. 69). [86 references]

This is the current release of the guideline.

This guideline updates a previous version: Emergency oral contraception. Washington (DC): American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); 2001 Mar. 8 p. (ACOG practice bulletin; no. 25). [48 references]

Unintended pregnancy resulting from unprotected or inadequately protected sexual intercourse

Counseling
Management

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pharmacology

Physicians

• To aid practitioners in making decisions about appropriate obstetric and gynecologic care
• To present evidence regarding the safety, efficacy, risks, and benefits of the use of emergency contraception including progestin-only, combined oral contraceptives, and intrauterine devices

Women who had unprotected or inadequately protected sexual intercourse within the previous 120 hours who do not desire pregnancy

1. Emergency oral contraception including levonorgestrel-only (preference) and combination estrogen-progestin regimen. Refer to Table 1 in the original guideline document for detailed information on the formulation and dosage of common oral contraceptives used as emergency contraception.
2. Antiemetic agent to be taken 1 hour before the first dose of combined estrogen-progestin regimen
3. Counseling patients regarding effective contraceptive methods at the time emergency contraception is prescribed
4. Offering patients an advance prescription for emergency contraception during a routine gynecologic visit
5. Evaluating patients for pregnancy if menses are delayed by a week or more after expected time or if lower abdominal pain or persistent irregular bleeding develops.

Incidence of unintended pregnancy

Hand-searches of Published Literature (Primary Sources)
Hand-searches of Published Literature (Secondary Sources)
Searches of Electronic Databases

The MEDLINE database, the Cochrane Library, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG's) own internal resources and documents were used to conduct a literature search to locate relevant articles published between January 1985 and January 2005. The search was restricted to articles published in the English language. Priority was given to articles reporting results of original research, although review articles and commentaries also were consulted. Abstracts of research presented at symposia and scientific conferences were not considered adequate for inclusion in this document.

Guidelines published by organizations or institutions such as the National Institutes of Health and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists were reviewed, and additional studies were located by reviewing bibliographies of identified articles.

Not stated

Weighting According to a Rating Scheme (Scheme Given)

Studies were reviewed and evaluated for quality according to the method outlined by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force:

I Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomized controlled trial

II-1 Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization

II-2 Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies, preferably from more than one center or research group

II-3 Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention. Dramatic results in uncontrolled experiments also could be regarded as this type of evidence.

III Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical experience, descriptive studies, or reports of expert committees

Review of Published Meta-Analyses
Systematic Review

Not stated

Expert Consensus

Analysis of available evidence was given priority in formulating recommendations. When reliable research was not available, expert opinions from obstetrician-gynecologists were used. See also the "Rating Scheme for the Strength of Recommendations" field regarding Grade C recommendations.

Based on the highest level of evidence found in the data, recommendations are provided and graded according to the following categories:

Level A - Recommendations are based on good and consistent scientific evidence.

Level B - Recommendations are based on limited or inconsistent scientific evidence.

Level C - Recommendations are based primarily on consensus and expert opinion.

A formal cost analysis was not performed and published cost analyses were not reviewed.

Internal Peer Review

Practice Bulletins are validated by two internal clinical review panels composed of practicing obstetrician-gynecologists, generalists and subspecialists. The final guidelines are also reviewed and approved by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Executive Board.

The grades of evidence (I-III) and levels of recommendations (A-C) are defined at the end of "Major Recommendations" field.

The following recommendations are based on good and consistent scientific evidence (Level A):

• Emergency contraception should be offered or made available to women who have had unprotected or inadequately protected sexual intercourse and who do not desire pregnancy.
• The levonorgestrel-only regimen is more effective and is associated with less nausea and vomiting; therefore, if available, it should be used in preference to the combined estrogen-progestin regimen.
• The 1.5-mg levonorgestrel-only regimen can be taken as a single dose.
• The two 0.75-mg doses of the levonorgestrel-only regimen are equally effective if taken 12-24 hours apart.
• To reduce the chance of nausea with the combined estrogen-progestin regimen, an antiemetic agent may be taken 1 hour before the first emergency contraception dose.
• Prescription or provision of emergency contraception in advance of need can increase availability and use.

The following recommendations are based on limited or inconsistent scientific evidence (Level B):

• Treatment with emergency contraception should be initiated as soon as possible after unprotected or inadequately protected intercourse to maximize efficacy.
• Emergency contraception should be made available to patients who request it up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse.
• No clinician examination or pregnancy testing is necessary before provision or prescription of emergency contraception.

The following recommendations are based primarily on consensus and expert opinion (Level C):

• No data specifically examine the risk of using hormonal methods of emergency contraception among women with contraindications to the use of conventional oral contraceptive preparations; nevertheless, emergency contraception may be made available to such women.
• Clinical evaluation is indicated for women who have used emergency contraception if menses are delayed by a week or more after the expected time or if lower abdominal pain or persistent irregular bleeding develops.
• Information regarding effective contraceptive methods should be made available either at the time emergency contraception is prescribed or at some convenient time thereafter.
• Emergency contraception may be used even if the woman has used it before, even within the same menstrual cycle.

Definitions:

Grades of Evidence

I Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomized controlled trial

II-1 Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization

II-2 Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies, preferably from more than one center or research group

II-3 Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention. Dramatic results in uncontrolled experiments also could be regarded as this type of evidence.

III Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical experience, descriptive studies, or reports of expert committees

Levels of Recommendation

Level A - Recommendations are based on good and consistent scientific evidence.

Level B - Recommendations are based on limited or inconsistent scientific evidence.

Level C - Recommendations are based primarily on consensus and expert opinion.

None provided

The type of supporting evidence is identified and graded for each recommendation (see "Major Recommendations").

Overall Benefits

Increasing emergency contraception awareness, knowledge, and access are important priorities in the effort to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy.

Specific Benefits

Estimates based on combined data from two studies show a reduced relative risk of pregnancy (0.51, 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.83) with the levonorgestrel-only regimen.

Adverse Effects of Contraceptive Agents

• Short term side effects of emergency contraception include:
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Irregular bleeding
  • Other side effects including breast tenderness, abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, and fatigue

Although existing pregnancy is not a contraindication for emergency contraception use in terms of risk of adverse effects, emergency contraception is not indicated in women with confirmed pregnancy because it will have no effect.

• These guidelines should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of treatment or procedure. Variations in practice may be warranted based on the needs of the individual patient, resources, and limitations unique to the institution or type of practice.
• Some emergency contraception studies have excluded women with specific contraindications to oral contraceptives, but no evidence demonstrates that emergency contraception is unsafe for women with these contraindications or for those with any particular medical conditions.

An implementation strategy was not provided.

Staying Healthy

Effectiveness
Patient-centeredness
Timeliness

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Emergency contraception. Washington (DC): American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); 2005 Dec. 10 p. (ACOG practice bulletin; no. 69). [86 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2001 Mar (revised 2005 Dec)

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Medical Specialty Society

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Practice Bulletins-Gynecology

Not stated

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline.

This guideline updates a previous version: Emergency oral contraception. Washington (DC): American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); 2001 Mar. 8 p. (ACOG practice bulletin; no. 25). [48 references]

None available

None available

This NGC summary was completed by ECRI on September 22, 2004. The information was verified by the guideline developer on December 9, 2004. This NGC summary was updated by ECRI on April 20, 2006.

This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions.