When taken before sex, the new combo pill may prevent pregnancy for days-consumer health news

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 (HealthDay News)-Imagine an oral contraceptive that women can take before having sex. This will prevent you from becoming pregnant for the next 3-5 days.

According to a small new study, this may become a reality.

The Traditional oral contraceptives I take it every day Emergency contraceptives Taken after sex to prevent pregnancy, but there is still no ideal “on-demand” option to take during sex.

“Many people have an unmet need for contraception,” said research author Dr. Erica Cayhill, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Stanford University. “This is for people looking for condoms, pessaries, withdrawal symptoms, spermicide, etc. that are more effective and unobtrusive than the only available pericoitals and should only be used when sexually active. This is especially true. [used at the time of sex] Or the current on-demand method. “

This contraceptive taken by women destroys ulipristal acetate, which is currently used as a “morning after” drug, in combination with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam. ovulation When the conception risk is maximum.

A female luteal phase surge occurs shortly before ovulation, and this is the most difficult time to interfere with ovulation and the easiest time to get pregnant, Cahill explained.

Ulipristal acetate interferes with ovulation when the luteal surge begins, but meloxicam can interfere with ovulation even after the luteal surge begins, researchers say.

In this study, nine women aged 18-35 years were monitored throughout the two menstrual cycles. During one cycle, 30 mg ulipristal acetate and 30 mg meloxicam were given in combination before and after the luteal phase surge to see if this on-demand contraceptive method was feasible.

Researchers measured key hormones and reviewed ultrasound scans to identify luteal surges to determine if ovulation occurred or was interrupted when a woman took a drug combo.

Studies show that ovulation was completely interrupted in 6 women.

When women took the combination regimen, the treatment cycle was extended by about 3 days. This can also be important for fertility tracking.

On-demand contraception is needed, Kay Hill said. “People are already using emergency contraceptives like equal contraceptives without studies showing efficacy or best practices,” she said.

Many people are interested in methods that do not include coming to the clinic for injections or implant placement and / or the hormone estrogen.

The new regimen will check these important boxes, Kay Hill said. The next step is to evaluate this combination in a larger study of real-time use.

The survey results are published in the April 25 issue of. BMJ Sexual and reproductive health..

Dr. Mary Jane Minkin is a clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at Yale University School of Medicine.

“I think it’s years away to use something like this regularly. I’m worried that women will use it regularly every time they have sex,” the study said. Minkin, who was not involved, said.

She said that the more contraceptive options you have, the better. “I regularly discuss emergency contraceptives. It’s safe to use, but it’s highly recommended that you talk to your gynecologist or health care provider about a method that’s always effective so that women don’t have it. Think about contraception. “

There are many long-acting reversible contraceptives available today. “If someone doesn’t want to use hormones, there are copper-added IUDs that can be used for more than a decade,” she said. There is also a ring of hormonal contraceptives that women insert and remove on their own each month. This is valid for one year.

“We have a hormone-coated IUD that lasts for five years and can make your period lighter and more comfortable,” Minkin added.

For more information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides today’s details Contraceptive options..

Source: Erica Cahill, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Mary Jane Minkin, MD, Clinical Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven , Connecticut; BMJ Sexual and reproductive healthApril 25, 2022