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Objectives The objective of this study was to quantify the cost burden of unintended pregnancies (UPs) in Norway, and to estimate the proportion of costs due to imperfect contraceptive adherence. Potential cost savings that could arise from increased uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) were also investigated. Methods An economic model was constructed to estimate the total number of UPs and associated costs in women aged 15–24 years. Adherence-related UP was estimated using ‘perfect use’ and ‘typical use’ contraceptive failure rates. Potential savings from increased use of LARC were projected by comparing current costs to projected costs following a 5% increase in LARC uptake. Results Total costs from UP in women aged 15–24 years were estimated to be 164 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK), of which 81.7% were projected to be due to imperfect contraceptive adherence. A 5% increase in LARC uptake was estimated to generate cost savings of NOK 7.2 million in this group. Conclusions The cost of UP in Norway is substantial, with a large proportion of this cost arising from imperfect contraceptive adherence. Increased LARC uptake may reduce the UP incidence and generate cost savings for both the health care payer and contraceptive user.

Aim To discover whether a hand-out explaining the benefits of intrauterine contraceptives (IUCs) and implants could increase their uptake in Hull, UK. Methods We developed a simple double-sided A4 hand-out. On one side was a script with pictures of copper and levonorgestrel IUCs next to a 20 pence coin and of an implant beside a hairgrip. On the other side was the three-tiered effectiveness chart published in the textbook Contraceptive Technology . We implemented the project in family planning (FP), abortion and antenatal clinics and general practitioner (GP) surgeries. The plan was that the receptionist would give the hand-out to every woman and ask her to read it before seeing a clinician. We evaluated the hand-out in FP clinics and GP practices because routine electronic monitoring reports were available only for these locations. Results There was no impact in GP practices. There was no overall impact in FP clinics, with the exception of the service hub, in which there was an increase in the proportion of women receiving IUCs or implants of 15.0% between the periods October 2011–April 2012 and May 2012–November 2012 ( p =0.0002). This clinic is open 6 days per week and has permanent sexual health staff on the reception desk. The proportion of women receiving IUCs or implants returned to baseline in December 2012–November 2013, when a change in clinic procedure to reduce waiting times caused staff to stop dispensing hand-outs. Conclusions This was not a formal study, so there was no research coordinator to monitor the project. We think that there was no impact among GPs because the project was not implemented by them. The project was poorly implemented at the four satellite FP clinics. Only the service hub implemented the project, where it had a clear impact. We conclude that when implemented as intended, this simple, very low-cost long-acting reversible contraception intervention was highly effective and also extremely cost effective.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between contraceptive effectiveness of Natural Cycles and users’ previous choice of contraceptive, and to evaluate the impact of shifting from other methods to Natural Cycles on the risk of unintended pregnancy.SettingNatural Cycles mobile application.Participants16 331 Natural Cycles users in Sweden for the prevention of pregnancy.Outcome measuresRisk of unintended pregnancy.Study designReal world evidence was collected from Natural Cycles users regarding contraceptive use prior to using Natural Cycles and sexual activity while using Natural Cycles. We calculated the typical use 1-year Pearl Index (PI) and 13-cycle failure rate of Natural Cycles for each cohort. The PI was compared with the population PI of their stated previous methods.ResultsFor women who had used condoms before, the PI of Natural Cycles was the lowest at 3.5±0.5. For women who had used the pill before, the PI of Natural Cycles was the highest at 8.1±0.6. The frequency of unprotected sex on fertile days partially explained some of the observed variation in PI between cohorts. 89% of users switched to Natural Cycles from methods with higher or similar reported PIs.ConclusionThe effectiveness of Natural Cycles is influenced by previous contraceptive choice and this should be considered when evaluating the suitability of the method for the individual. We estimate that Natural Cycles usage can reduce the overall likelihood of having an unintended pregnancy by shifting usage from less effective methods.

Dowrloaded from jfprhc,bmj.corn on November 7,2013 - Punished by grouytnni com =.::'«l SVVIU E ‘ME WT For nurnbened affiliations see end of article. Correspondence to Professor Dr Johan res Bitzer. Chief Physician and Chairman Department of Obnettics and Gynaecology. University Hospital Basel. Basel. Switzerland; JohartnesBitzer@usb.cl‘. Received IS March 2013 Accepted 18 March 2013 To cite: Bitzer J Amy J-J. Beerttmizer R. et al. Joumai of Fanfly Planning and Reproductive Health C are Published Online First lnlease include Day Month Year] doi: 10. l l36lifptl1(-20l3- 100624 Statement on combined hormonal contraceptives containing third- or fourth-generation progestogens or cyproterone acetate, and the associated risk of thromboembolism Johannes Bitzer Cosignatories Jean-Jacques Amy,‘ Rob Beerthuizen,2 Martin Birkhauser,3 Teresa Bombas,“ Mitchell Creinin,5 Philip D Darney,5 Lisa Ferreira Vicente,’ Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson,° Bruno lmthurn,9 Jeffrey T Jensen,” Andrew M Kaunitz,“ Ali Kubba,” Medlard M Lech,” Diana Mansour,” Gabriele Merki,” Thomas Rabe,‘6 Katarina Sedlecki,” David Serfaty,‘8Jact1ues Seydoux,” Lee P Shu|man,2° Regine Sitruk-Ware, ‘ Sven O Skouby,” Anne Szarewski, James Trussell,” Carolyn Westhoffzs A NEW PILL SCARE? HOW DID IT COME ABOUT AND HOW SHOULD WE TACKLE IT? The cotttroversy around the combined hormonal contraceptives ((IH(,'s) of the so-called third (containing gestodene or desogestrel) and fourth generation (cott- raining drospirenone. DRSP) lt-as reached .1 highly emotional political dimension in which all those who “are prol'essionall_v responsible for women's health are involved: the national health authorities, the pltarrnaceutical companies, the pro- fessional orgartis-ations, the prescrihers. the media and the public (i.e. the current or potential users of CH(Is). The — initially scientific — controversy has now led to a ptthlic health dispute that culminated in the decision of the Frenelt '.1tltht)ritlc's to withdraw the com hination containing etltinylestradiol (EE) and cyproterone acetate (CPA) from the market. The potential impact of this measure, namely the loss of confidence in .1/I (Ill(.'s. could be quite serious. WHAT TRIGGERED THIS CRISIS? Several re;.',is‘tr_v~hasei.l studies published in the Britr'.~‘l2 .\ledic.tl Irirrrmtl. partictilarlv 23 the one based on the Danish Registry. indicated that there is an increased risk of venous thrombiternholism (VTE) asso- ciated with the intake of third- and liounh-generation combined oral contra- ceptives ((ZO('.s) compared to prepara- tions containing the progestogen le\'onorges‘trel (I-.\l(§).q5 The relative risk (RR) was around 2. and the absolute attributable risk was estimated to be (dependent on the background preva- lence rate) between .2 to 8 per ll) llllll users per year.q A very recent systentatic review and meta-anal_vsis of the possible link between treatment with CHCs and VTF. con- cluded that. in this regard. (I) (3H(Zs cort- taining I.N(} or norgestimate were the safest. (.1) those containing desogestrel. DRSI’ or (IPA were associated with a sig- ttillC.‘tI1tl_\' ltiglter risk than (IH(Is contain- ing LNG, and (3) the aup,ntented risk of VTE found for pills containing gestodene compared to (l(.)(Ls with L\'(; appeared to be smaller than in earlier s'tttcllcs.7 These resultsq contrast with those of published prospective cohort studies. sponsored by It’-a_ver He-altlt(.are. at the request of the European Medicitte Bitzer J et J Journal offamily Planting and Reolodzcme Health (.19 20‘~3;0:'-at doizt 0.’ ’-36Ii?prh: 2073 ‘0062-1 1

Dr Gordon1 is uncomfortable with a family planning method that exerts its effect after fertilisation. However, a new study, published after our personal view article …