Rates of Contraceptive Failure When Unprotected Intercourse Has Occurred 6-14 Days Prior to Contraceptive Initiation

Women seeking emergency contraception (EC) frequently report multiple recent episodes of unprotected sex. Although high sensitivity urine pregnancy tests effectively rule-out pregnancy resulting from sex that occurred more than 14 days ago, clinicians are frequently concerned that pregnancy may result from unprotected sex that occurred <14 days prior to IUD placement. Placement of a copper IUD within 5 days of unprotected sex is a highly effective form of EC. Among 52 Chinese women who reported unprotected intercourse 5-7 days prior to copper IUD insertion, no pregnancies occurred. However, the effectiveness of the copper IUD when unprotected sex occurs 7-14 days prior to IUD placement is unknown. Intrauterine pregnancies rarely occur with a copper IUD in place. As some clinicians are concerned about injuring a pregnancy that occurs with an IUD in place, women who have had unprotected sex 7-14 days prior to requesting IUD placement are typically told they must use another, less effective, contraceptive for 2+ weeks and then return to obtain an IUD. To remove this barrier to emergency placement of a copper IUD, we propose to study rates of pregnancy when a copper IUD is placed "any time a urine pregnancy test is negative." We believe that simplifying guidance regarding the recommended timing of copper IUD placement has the potential to significantly increase the number of women offered "same-day" IUD service.