Delaying versus immediately starting Combined Oral Contraceptive pill after UPA EC
November 2020. A study investigating timing of combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) restart after missed pills and use of ulipristal acetate emergency contraception (UPA EC), was recently published. According to the study (Banh C, Rautenberg T, Duijkers IJ, et al. The effects on ovarian activity of delaying versus immediately restarting combined oral contraception after missing three pills and taking ulipristal acetate 30 mg. Contraception 2020;102(3):145-151.), in the specific scenario in which established users of 30mcg EE/LNG COC in a 21/7 regimen restart pill-taking for 4 days after a pill-free interval, miss the next 3 consecutive pills, and take UPA EC, ovulation and theoretical risk of pregnancy later in the cycle is less likely if COC is restarted immediately after UPA-EC than if COC restart is delayed for 5 days after UPA-EC.
The UK Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Clinical Effectiveness Unit is the first scientific society to respond to this study. Read the Faculty’s statement and recommendations here: https://www.fsrh.org/news/the-fsrh-ceu-statement-regarding-delaying-versus-immediately/
