According to a randomized controlled trial recently published in The Lancet, combining the anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam, often prescribed for arthritis pain, with the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill after unprotected intercourse results in fewer pregnancies compared to taking levonor
A recent study revealed that taking piroxicam with the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill significantly prevents more pregnancies than levonorgestrel alone. The research found that 95% of pregnancies were prevented following combined treatment with levonorgestrel and the anti-inflammatory medication piroxicam, compared to 63% of pregnancies being prevented when levonorgestrel was taken alone.
“The levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill is one of the most popular choices of emergency contraception in many parts of the world, so finding out that there is a widely available medication that increases levonorgestrel’s efficacy when they are taken together is really exciting,” said Dr. Sue Lo from the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, a co-investigator of the study.
Of the 836 women followed up, there was one pregnancy among the 418 women who took piroxicam and levonorgestrel and seven pregnancies among the 418 women who had the placebo and levonorgestrel. The percentage of expected pregnancies without contraception was estimated at 4.5% in both groups. Therefore, the percentage of pregnancies prevented following piroxicam-levonorgestrel co-treatment was 95% , compared with 63% in those who took levonorgestrel and placebo.
Professor Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson from the Karolinska Institute, another co-investigator, explained that “levonorgestrel prevents pregnancy by blocking or postponing the luteinizing hormone surge, which disrupts the ovulatory process. Piroxicam might work by targeting a different type of hormone – prostaglandins. Prostaglandins facilitate several reproductive processes including ovulation, fertilization, and embryo implantation.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Discover huge savings on 'The Frame' smart TV during the Discover Samsung fall saleOne of the more than 100 products on sale during the Discover Samsung fall sale is the popular 'The Frame' smart TV.
Read more »
Scientists discover common sandwich filling could defend against mosquitoesThe finding may help pave the way to more nature-based solutions to control mosquito populations, avoiding the use of synthetic chemical pesticides.
Read more »
Scientists Discover Unexpected Pathway to Batteries With High Energy, Low Cost, and Long LifeResearchers uncover an unexpected route to better lithium-sulfur batteries by visualizing reactions at the atomic scale. The journey from a laboratory discovery to real-world application can be extensive and fraught with challenges. Take the lithium-sulfur battery, for instance. While it boasts sig
Read more »
90% Reduction: Scientists Discover Natural Molecule That Eradicates Plaques and Cavities3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) decreased the Streptococcus mutans biofilm, a leading contributor to plaque and cavities, by 90%. A significant portion of the global population experiences persistent issues with dental plaque and cavities or will face them at some time. While toothpaste, mouthwash, and
Read more »
Scientists discover a cat-sized ancient koala in AustraliaThese early ancestors were about the size of a pet cat and fill in a 30 million year evolutionary gap for marsupials.
Read more »
How helicopters on Mars could find hidden magnetism in planet's crustA simple add-on to Ingenuity-like crafts could gather unique data, scientists say.
Read more »