Starting Oral Contraceptives Immediately: How Much Benefit?

A quick-start OC strategy did not raise continuation rates or lower pregnancy rates.

Many young sexually active women who begin taking oral contraceptives (OCs), the most popular birth control method in the U.S., soon stop using them and become pregnant unintentionally. At clinics in New York City, Atlanta, and Dallas, investigators assessed whether women randomized to immediate, directly observed ingestion of the first pill (quick start) during the clinic visit would have higher continuation rates and lower pregnancy rates than those randomized to conventional practice (starting the pill with the next menstrual period).

The 1716 participants (age <25; 59% Latina) had negative pregnancy tests at clinic visit, had no desire for pregnancy in the next 6 months, and had not recently used hormonal contraception. Fully 60% of part…

Reviewing Author

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Starting Oral Contraceptives Immediately: How Much Benefit?

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Reviewing Author