SOGC COMMITEE OPINION
Missed Hormonal Contraceptives: New Recommendations

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1701-2163(16)33001-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

To provide evidence-based guidance for women and their health care providers on the management of missed or delayed hormonal contraceptive doses in order to prevent unintended pregnancy.

Evidence

Medline, PubMed, and the Cochrane Database were searched for articles published in English, from 1974 to 2007, about hormonal contraceptive methods that are available in Canada and that may be missed or delayed. Relevant publications and position papers from appropriate reproductive health and family planning organizations were also reviewed. The quality of evidence is rated using the criteria developed by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.

Benefits, Harms, and Costs

This committee opinion will help health care providers offer clear information to women who have not been adherent in using hormonal contraception with the purpose of preventing unintended pregnancy.

Sponsors

: The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.

Summary Statements

  • 1.

    Instructions for what women should do when they miss hormonal contraception have been complex and women do not understand them correctly. (I)

  • 2.

    The highest risk of ovulation occurs when the hormone-free interval is prolonged for more than seven days, either by delaying the start of combined hormonal contraceptives or by missing active hormone doses during the first or third weeks of combined oral contraceptives. (II) Ovulation rarely occurs after seven consecutive days of combined oral contraceptive use. (II)

Recommendations

  • 1.

    Health care providers should give clear, simple instructions, both written and oral, on missed hormonal contraceptive pills as part of contraceptive counselling. (III-A)

  • 2.

    Health care providers should provide women with telephone/electronic resources for reference in the event of missed or delayed hormonal contraceptives. (III-A)

  • 3.

    In order to avoid an increased risk of unintended pregnancy, the hormone-free interval should not exceed seven days in combined hormonal contraceptive users. (II-A)

  • 4.

    Back-up contraception should be used after one missed dose in the first week of hormones until seven consecutive days of correct hormone use are established. In the case of missed combined hormonal contraceptives in the second or third week of hormones, the hormone-free interval should be eliminated for that cycle. (III-A)

  • 5.

    Emergency contraception and back-up contraception may be required in some instances of missed hormonal contraceptives, in particular when the hormone-free interval has been extended for more than seven days. (III-A)

  • 6.

    Back-up contraception should be used when three or more consecutive doses/days of combined hormonal contraceptives are missed in the second and third week until seven consecutive days of correct hormone use are established. For practical reasons, the scheduled hormone-free interval should be eliminated in these cases. (II-A)

  • 7.

    Emergency contraception is rarely indicated for missed combined hormonal contraceptives in the second or third week of the cycle unless there are repeated omissions or failure to institute back-up contraception after the missed doses. In cases of repeated omissions of combined hormonal contraceptives, emergency contraception may be required, and back-up contraception should be used. Health care professionals should counsel women in these situations on alternative methods of contraception that do not demand such stringent compliance. (III-A)

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      Back-up contraception should be used for 48 hours. If UPI has occurred, emergency contraception (EC) is recommended.218 In the case of LNG-EC, she should start the POP the next day and use back-up contraception for another 48 hours.

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    This committee opinion has been reviewed by the Social and Sexual Issues Committee and reviewed and approved by the Executive of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.

    Disclosure statements have been received from all members of the committee.

    This document reflects emerging clinical and scientific advances on the date issued and is subject to change. The information should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed. Local institutions can dictate amendments to these opinions. They should be well documented if modified at the local level. None of these contents may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the SOGC.

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