Policy and Regulation · Professional Standards
Meyer L, 1991 · Rev Prat
5 major criteria are used to evaluate family planning efficacy, both theoretical and practical; acceptability as measured by continuation of use; safety; reversibility; and cost, including the cost of treatment, follow-up, and screening for contraindications. Traditional family planning methods are mostly based on periodic abstinence during the presumed fertile period. The calendar, temperature, Billings or cervical mucus, and symptothermal methods are based on observation of different symptoms of ovulation and fertility. Their advantages are that they do not require intervention by health personnel, their costs of use are nil, and they are morally acceptable to some couples. Their efficacy is lower than that of other methods and they should be viewed as methods to space rather than limit births. The withdrawal method, also less effective, requires active cooperation by the male partner. Among mechanical methods, the use of condoms has increased recently because of the protection they offer against HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. Their efficacy depends on correct use, regular use, and the quality of the condom. The Pearl index varies from 93099 per 100 woman-years. The diaphragm must be individually measured and should be used with spermicides. The Pearl index ranges from 85095 per 100 woman-years. Spermicides, generally either nonoxynol-9 or benzalkonium chloride, are surfactants that have a Pearl index of 83-97 per 100 woman-years. They are available as creams, jellies, foams, suppositories, tablets, or impregnated sponges. Most failures appear due to errors of utilization. The mechanism of action of the IUD is imperfectly understood, but it is known to prevent nidation of the fertilized egg. Copper devised have higher rates of efficacy and tolerance. Pearl indices range from 95-99.5. Contraindications include genital infection, uterine anomalies, valvular cardiopathy, and coagulation problems. The IUD is relatively contraindicated if there is history of ectopic pregnancy or upper genital tract infections. The combined oral contraceptive is the most widely utilized method in France. The Pearl index is nearly 100 in the absence of forgetting, vomiting, or drug interactions. The contraindications are basically those of estrogens: history of thrombosis, prolonged bedrest, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hepatic disorders, hormonodependent cancers, or smoking after age 35. Progestin-only methods are available in 3 forms: low-dose pills which must be taken at the same time each day, higher-dosed progestins taken for 20 days each month, and injectable progestins providing contraception for 8-12 weeks. Postcoital contraception using OCs or IUDs is possible but not well known among women or physicians. The Neuwirth law authorizing use of contraception in France was passed in 1967. Amendments in 1974 improved access and provided for reimbursement for some methods, but some newer forms are not reimbursed.
Effectiveness · Comparative Effectiveness
Freundl G, 2010 · Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care
This letter to the editor discusses a review article commenting on the efficacy of contraceptive methods. It takes issue with section focused on natural family planning methods (Billings ovulation method calendar methods symptothermal method etc) and finds fault with the authors not differentiating between the various natural methods. It states that if the authors consider it appropriate to differentiate between the various hormonal contraceptives then differentiation between the natural methods is mandatory.
Effectiveness · Typical and Perfect Use
Peragallo Urrutia R et al., 2018 · Obstet Gynecol
To summarize best available prospective data on typical and perfect use effectiveness of fertility awareness-based methods for avoiding pregnancy. We conducted a systematic review of studies published in English, Spanish, French, or German by June 2017 in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov. We reviewed 8,755 unique citations and included 53 studies that contained 50 or greater women using a specific fertility awareness-based method to avoid pregnancy, calculated life table pregnancy probabilities or Pearl rates, and prospectively measured pregnancy intentions and outcomes. We systematically evaluated study quality. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, Of 53 included studies, we ranked 0 high quality, 21 moderate quality, and 32 low quality for our question of interest. Among moderate-quality studies, first-year typical use pregnancy rates or probabilities per 100 woman-years varied widely: 11.2-14.1 for the Standard Days Method, 13.7 for the TwoDay Method, 10.5-33.6 for the Billings Ovulation Method, 4-18.5 for the Marquette Mucus-only Method, 9.0-9.8 for basal body temperature methods, 13.2 for single-check symptothermal methods, 11.2-33.0 for Thyma double-check symptothermal methods, 1.8 for Sensiplan, 25.6 for Persona, 2-6.8 for the Marquette Monitor-only Method, and 6-7 for the Marquette Monitor and Mucus Method. First-year perfect use pregnancy rates or probabilities among moderate-quality studies were 4.8 for the Standard Days Method, 3.5 for the TwoDay Method, 1.1-3.4 for the Billings Ovulation Method, 2.7 for the Marquette Mucus Method, 0.4 for Sensiplan, 12.1 for Persona, and 0 for the Marquette Monitor. Studies on the effectiveness of each fertility awareness-based method are few and of low to moderate quality. Pregnancy rates or probabilities varied widely across different fertility awareness-based methods (and in some cases, within method types), even after excluding low-quality studies. Variability across populations studied precludes comparisons across methods.
03zjj0p70