Are IUDs the next morning-after pill?

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a highly effective form of emergency contraception, according to research published online May 8 in Human Reproduction.

Kelly Cleland, MPH, MPA, of Princeton University in New Jersey, and colleagues conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the efficacy of IUDs for emergency contraception. A total of 42 studies conducted in six countries between 1979 and 2011 were evaluated, with eight different types of IUDs in 7,034 women reviewed.

The overall pregnancy rate was 0.09%, excluding one outlier study.

The researchers found that the majority (74%) of IUD insertions occurred within five days of intercourse, and the maximum timeframe from intercourse to insertion ranged from 2 to more than 10 days.

“IUDs are a highly effective method of contraception after unprotected intercourse,” the authors write. “Because they are safe for the majority of women, highly effective and cost-effective when left in place as ongoing contraception, whenever clinically feasible, IUDs should be included in the range of emergency contraception options offered to patients presented after unprotected intercourse.”