Researchers recently completed a study examining the effects of emergency contraception on tubal environment.Levonorgestrel (LNG) was the emergency contraception used in the study. Ectopic pregnancies have been reported in patients using LNG for emergency contraception, but this is the first investigation of long-term effects of LNG use on tubal environment.
Researchers divided 55 women into two study groups - group one was treated with LNG for emergency contraception and group two were untreated. All participants underwent testing to measure estrogen (E), progesterone (P) and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels.
There did not appear to be any differences in E, P or beta HCG levels between the two groups. Researchers believe no additional therapies are needed to prevent future ectopic pregnancies in women treated with LNG as a means of emergency contraception.
Source: Huang C, Zhang M, Meng C, Shi W, Sun L, Zhang J. Expressions of candidate molecules in the human fallopian tube and chorionic villi of tubal pregnancy exposed to levonorgestrel emergency contraception. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2013 May 20;11(1):46.