A REASSESSMENT OF EFFICACY OF THE YUZPE REGIMEN OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION

This review discusses the available data reporting the efficacy of eme rgency contraceptive treatment with the Yuzpe regimen (0.2 mg of ethin yl oestradiol in combination with either 2.0 rug of norgestrel or 1,0 mg of levonorgestrel) and evaluates the true effectiveness in preventi ng pregnancy, A literature review was:as completed for reports includi ng women treated with the Yuzpe using a MEDLINE search for articles pu blished since 1970 and by reviewing the secondary reference lists of t hese manuscripts, Expected pregnancy rates for each study population w ere calculated using published conception rate estimates, Seven publis hed studies provided adequate data to assess accurately efficacy of th e Yuzpe regimen in preventing pregnancy after unprotected inter-course , Of 2871 women treated, 54 (1.9%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1,4-2 ,4) became pregnant, By calculating the expected pregnancy rates using two different methodologies, the Yuzpe regimen decreased the observed number of pregnancies by 70,0% (95% CI 63.3-76.7) and 77.2% (95% CI 7 1.5-82.8). Emergency contraception with the Yuzpe regimen is an effect ive form of contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancy after unprotec ted intercourse.