Single Dose Levonorgestrel and Two Regimens of Centchroman for Emergency Contraception

Objective: To investigate centchroman as an effective method of emergency contraception and to compare its efficacy and side effects with single and double dose of levonorgestrel regimen. Materials and Methods: Hundred and fifty healthy women in reproductive age group seeking post coital contraception advice within 120 hours of single unprotected intercourse from Outpatient Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The three regimens of emergency contraception given on random basis were 1.5 mg single dose levonorgestrel tablet-Group I, single 60 mg dose of centchroman-Group II, and 30 mg centchroman twice a day at an interval of 12 hours-Group III. The outcome measures were unintended pregnancy, pregnancy rates, prevented fraction, side effects and the timing of the first menstruation after treatment. Results: The baseline characteristics of women were similar. Four women (2.7%) were lost to follow up and 146 women remained in the investigation. The pregnancy rate and the prevented fraction was 4% (2/50) and 50% in Group I, 2.1% (1/47) and 75% in Group II, and 6.1% (3/49) and 25% in Group III (p>0.05). There were no serious side effects and more than 90% women in all groups had menses within 2 days of the expected date. Discussion: Single dose (60 mg) of centchroman is comparable to a single dose (1.5 mg) of levonorgestrel as a measure of emergency contraception.