Postcoital estrogen or IUD

In 1977-78 120 women aged 15-35 at the CEMP Centre in Milan Italy were assigned randomly (60 each) to 5 tablets EE (1 mg) daily for 5 days; or insertion of Cu-T. All women were followed up for at least 40 days from last menstrual period. 88% were nulliparous; 90% were under age 25. With ovulation estimated as 14 days before the mean length of the 6 previous cycles 40% had had unprotected coitus within 2 days of ovulation; 30% had coitus 3-4 days before or 3-5 days after ovulation. None of the 120 women became pregnant. Of the 60 women taking EE 80% experienced side effects; 51% nausea 18% vomiting; 30% breast pain; 25% headache and 22% bleeding. The side effects from the Cu-T were 38%: 8% vagal reflex during insertion; 11% serious uterine cramps within 4 days of insertion; 33% bleeding; and 1 expelled 5 days after insertion. Both postcoital ethinylestradiol and the Copper-T 200 were effective in preventing pregnancy.