1. Sponsored by HRA Pharma
Contraception Update
Dr Tracey Dibble
Associate Specialist at Sheffield Contraception & Sexual Health Service
March 2012
Sponsored by HRA Pharma

2. “Family planning could provide more benefits to more people at less cost than any other single technology now available to the human race” James Grant, Unicef Annual Report 1992

3. Aims UK Picture Human Fertility History Lesson Current UK Use
Contraceptive Methods
LARC
User Dependent EC
New Developments

4. Why is this important in the UK?
High teenage pregnancy rates in Sheffield & UK (compared to Europe)
Increasing abortion rate
Increasing repeat abortions

6. Teenage Pregnancy 2010 Figures E & W rate is 35.5 / 1000
Lowest since 1969
↓ 9.5% since 2009
Sheffield rate is 41.4 /1000

7. Teenage Pregnancy Rates 1998 - 2010

8. Abortion 2010 Figures E & W Total numbers 189,574 (↑0.3% 2009)
Rate 17.5 / 1000 women
Rate 16.5 / 1000 under 18s
Sheffield
Total numbers 1683
Rate 13.2 / 1000 all women
Rate 18 / 1000 under 18s

9. How fertile are human beings ?
No breeding season
For women maximum desire corresponds to most fertile phase
350 million sperm / ejaculate
Sperm survive average 3-4 days (“super sperm” 6-7 days)
Ovum needs to be fertilised within 12hrs
Most fertile days are 2-3 days prior to ovulation

10. The menstrual cycle

11. Brief History Lesson

12. Development of Condoms
1000BC - Egyptians used linen sheath condoms for prevention of infection
1500s - linen sheaths used in European Syphilis epidemic – usefulness against pregnancy also discovered
1700s – animal intestine condoms available but expensive
1880’s – vulcanisation of rubber & mass production of rubber condoms, Goodyear & Hancock

13. Decline of Birth Rate in Victorian England – McLaren 1978
Years
Children per marriage
1860’s
6.16
1870’s
5.8
1880’s
5.3
1890’s
4.13
1915
2.43

14. Consequence of birth control? -McLaren 1978
Year of birth
Estimated proportion of women who control or attempt to control their fertility
19.5%
42.7%
72%

15. What methods were available?
Coitus interruptus “until at least WWII the most popular form of contraception in England”-McLaren 1978
Temporary abstinence
Condoms
Abortion – although illegal it was common

16. Development of the pill
Early 20th Century Feminists & Birth Control movement – Stopes, Sanger & McCormick
Mexico 1950s – Marker & Djerassi
1960 1st pill marketed

17. Contraception in UK 2008/09, ONS
Method
1997/8
2008/09
Pill
26%
25%
Sterilisation
21%
17%
Condom
IUD/IUS 4%
6% + 2%
Withdrawal
Depo / Implanon 2%
3% +1%
Other method 5%
Pregnant
No relationship
14%
13%
11% Vas & 6% female sterilisation
Pill 16% coc

18. LARC Methods From NHS Community Contraception Clinics

19. Characteristics of a good contraceptive
Effective
Forgettable
Convenient
Reversible
Safe
Cheap
Few side effects

20. Percentage of women pregnant in first year of use
Effectiveness
Spermicides
Female condom
Diaphragm w/spermicides
Male condom
Oral contraceptives
DMPA
IUD (TCu-380A)
IUDs are among the most effective methods of contraception, with failure rates of less than 1 percent. This chart compares the pregnancy rates for the IUD with the rates for other contraceptive methods. The red rectangles show pregnancy rates for correct and consistent use, reflecting how often a contraceptive fails when it is used both correctly and consistently. The blue rectangles show pregnancy rates for typical use, reflecting how often a contraceptive fails in real-life situations, when it may not always be used correctly and consistently.
In the case of the IUD, there is practically no difference between pregnancy rates for correct and consistent use and typical use. As the chart shows, other reversible contraceptive methods, such as barrier methods or oral contraceptives, may have low pregnancy rates with correct and consistent use but much higher rates with typical use.
With the IUD, the woman does not need to do anything, although it is advisable to check for IUD strings once a month to make sure it is in place. Because the effectiveness of IUDs does not depend on daily user compliance, the pregnancy rates for the IUD are extremely low even with typical use.
Use of the IUD results in about the same pregnancy rate as sterilization, a nonreversible method.1 █
Reference:
1. World Health Organization/Department of Reproductive Health and Research (WHO), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs/INFO Project (CCP). Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers. Baltimore, MD and Geneva: CCP and WHO, 2007.
Rate during perfect use
Female sterilization
Rate during typical use
Implants 5 10 15 20 25 30
Percentage of women pregnant in first year of use
Source: CCP and WHO, 2007.

21. Cost Contraceptive Cost / year Nuvaring £108 Evra patches £65.04
Yasmin
£58.80
Cerazette
£35.40
Implanon
£27
Marvelon
£20.10
Depo Provera
£18.03
Mirena
£16.63
Microgynon
£11.96
Noriday
£8.40
T Safe Cu 380
£1.00

22. Forgettable ! User Dependent Methods Condoms Pills
Unfortunately are very forgettable!!
Success depends upon excellent compliance

23. Forgettable User Independent Methods LARC methods Sterilisation
Cannot be forgotten therefore woman can relax - she is not going to get pregnant

24. Consequences of forgetting
Audit of contraception use in 200 vulnerable women at Sheffield TOP clinic, 2008
Contraception being used before pregnancy
None 39%
Condoms 35%
Pill methods 27%
No LARC failures

25. What is LARC?
Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives are methods of contraception which are administered less than once / month

26. Depo Provera Pros Effective High dose progestogen im injection
Inhibits ovulation
Every 12 weeks
Doesn’t interfere with sex
More under patient control
Often causes amenorrhoea

27. Depo Provera Cons Can be forgotten Osteopenia / osteoporosis
Irregular / heavy bleeding
Weight gain
Low mood
Delay in fertility return – average 1yr

28. Nexplanon Replaced Implanon in Oct 2010
Small rod in upper arm - inhibits ovulation
Pros
Very effective (0 – 0.07% )
Lasts 3 yrs
Forgettable
Doesn’t interfere with sex
Very safe
Cost effective

29. Nexplanon Cons Needs to be fitted & removed by Dr or nurse
Some people don’t like idea of foreign body in arm
Irregular or heavy bleeding
Amenorrhoea
Weight gain??

30. IUDs Pros Effective Forgettable Doesn’t interfere with sex
Long lasting up to 10yrs
Good safety record
No hormones

31. IUDs Cons Needs fitting / removal by Dr or nurse
Some patients do not like idea of IUD inside them
Heavy bleeding
Risk of perforation/ expulsion/ infection
Not always tolerated esp by nullips

32. Mirena IUS Pros Very effective Forgettable Doesn’t interfere with sex
Long lasting –5yrs
Treatment of menorrhagia
Used as part of HRT

33. Mirena IUS Cons Needs fitting / removal by Dr or nurse
Some patients do not like idea of IUD inside them
Irregular bleeding / spotting
Risk of perforation/
expulsion/ infection
Not always tolerated esp by nullips

34. Sterilisation Female Sterilisation Vasectomy Irreversible Under GA
Filshie Clips on Fallopian tubes
Failure rate 1 in 200
Immediately effective
Irreversible
Under LA
Dissect Vas deferens & remove a small piece
Failure rate 1 in 2000
Not immediately effective

35. User Dependent Methods
Oral Contraceptives
COC
POP & Cerazette
Barrier Methods
Condoms
Diaphragms
Natural Family Planning

36. Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill
Combines Oestrogen
& Progestogen
Very effective 0.2 – 3%
Good menstrual cycle control
Not related to sexual intercourse
Helps heavy / painful periods

37. COC Cons Complicated pill rules Difficult to remember
Minor side effects – nausea, breast tenderness
Increased venous thrombosis, heart disease, stroke but only if have pre-existing risk factors (e.g. obesity , smoking)
Small increased risk of breast cancer

38. How safe is the pill? Comparative Risks /100,000 women (Yr 2000)
Taking pill = 1 death
Home accidents = 3 deaths
Having a baby, UK = 6 deaths
Road accidents = 8 deaths
Smoking at age 35yr = 167 deaths, next yr
Having a baby, Rural Africa = deaths

39. Evra COC in patch form Efficacy 0.99-1.24% failure rate 20 cm patch
4.6% patch detachment
Worn for 3 weeks with 1 week break
Each patch lasts 7 days
If forget to change patch - ok up to 2 days late
Expensive £7.74 / month ( Compared to COC £0.50 / month

40. Progestogen Only Pill Pros Very safe Less effective (0.3 – 4%)
Relies on thickening cervical mucus
Inhibits ovulation in some women
OK if oestrogen is contraindicated
OK if breastfeeding

41. POP Cons Difficult to remember Only 3 hour window Higher failure rate
Poor cycle control – irregular bleeding

42. Cerazette New POP Higher dose Inhibits ovulation in 97% of cycles
Still very safe
More effective (0.7 – 1.1%)
12hr window
Poor cycle control for some women – irregular bleeding

43. Condoms Still best protection against STIs
Good for additional protection alongside another contraceptive
User failure rates are high
Non latex versions available

44. Diaphragms Not very effective Perfect Use 6% Typical Use 16%
Useful to space children
Use in 40s
Irritation from spermicide

45. Emergency Contraception
Copper IUD
Most effective
Can be fitted up to 5 days after sex
Levonelle
High dose progestogen
Can be used up to 3 days after sex
Available OTC
Delays ovulation
Safe

46. ellaOne Licensed in Autumn 2009 Progestogen blocker Inhibits ovulation
More effective than Levonelle
Works up to 5 days after sex
Must not be used more than once in cycle or if any earlier risk of pregnancy
May effect ongoing contraception
Expensive £ 16.95

47. New Developments New Methods Nuvaring Qlaira
New Ways of Using Old Methods
Tricycling COC & reducing PFI

48. Nuvaring Vaginal ring containing hormones
Wear for 3 weeks, 1 week off – withdrawal bleed
Stops ovulation
<1% failure rate
Well tolerated
Can be worn during sex
Periods lighter, regular, shorter
Expensive

49. Tailored Pill Regimes
Pill Free Interval is cause of high failure rate of COC
Now out dated
Who needs a period?
Options
Reduce PFI to 4 days
Reduce frequency of PFI – only every 3 months