Title: Combination of Piroxicam and Levonorgestrel Emergency Contraceptive Pill Shows Promise in Preventing Unwanted Pregnancies, Finds Study
Date: [Insert Date]
In a groundbreaking study published in The Lancet, researchers have found that taking the anti-inflammatory medication, piroxicam, in conjunction with the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill significantly improves its efficacy in preventing pregnancies compared to levonorgestrel alone.
Levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate are the two most commonly used emergency contraceptive pills worldwide. However, it must be noted that these pills mainly prevent or delay ovulation and are not effective post-ovulation. Levonorgestrel, being more widely available, has historically been the go-to option for emergency contraception. However, the effectiveness of levonorgestrel has recently been called into question.
The study, conducted in Hong Kong, involved women who received levonorgestrel emergency contraception within 72 hours of unprotected sex. These women were divided into two groups – one group received piroxicam alongside levonorgestrel, while the other group received a placebo together with levonorgestrel.
Out of the 836 women who were followed up, only one pregnancy occurred in the piroxicam-levonorgestrel group, in comparison to seven pregnancies in the placebo-levonorgestrel group. This significant difference suggests that piroxicam, by targeting prostaglandins involved in reproductive processes, may provide a contraceptive effect both before and after ovulation. Nevertheless, more research is needed to further confirm this finding.
It is important to note that the study had some limitations. Women who were currently using hormonal contraception or had recently used it, as well as those who had multiple episodes of unprotected sex before taking emergency contraception, were excluded. Hence, the findings of the study may not apply to all patients.
Dr. Erica Cahill, a specialist from the Stanford University School of Medicine, believes that adding piroxicam to levonorgestrel emergency contraception could potentially enhance its efficacy. However, it is worth mentioning that the population studied mainly consisted of Asian women weighing less than 70 kg. The effectiveness of this combination may differ for patients with higher body mass indexes (BMIs) or obesity.
While this study opens new avenues for research and offers potential benefits for women seeking emergency contraception, further studies are needed to determine the broader applicability and safety of combining piroxicam with levonorgestrel. Researchers are hopeful that these findings will contribute to improved contraceptive options in the near future.
Source:
– [Insert Source Name and Link]
