INDICATIONS AND USAGE
ParaGard is indicated for intrauterine contraception for up to 10 years. The pregnancy rate in clinical studies has been less than 1 pregnancy per 100 women each year.
Table 1: Percentage of women experiencing an unintended pregnancy during the first year of typical use and first year of perfect use of contraception and the percentage continuing use at the end of the first year: United States
Footnotes to Table 1
Source: Trussel J, Contraceptive efficacy. In Hatcher RA, Trussel J, Stewart F, Cates W, Stewart GK, Kowal D, Guest F, Contraceptive Technology: Seventeenth Revised Edition. New York NY: Irvington Publishers, 1998.
% of Women Experiencing
an Accidental Pregnancy within
the First Year of Use
% of Women Continuing
Use at One Year3
Method (1)
Typical Use1 (2)
Perfect Use2 (3)
(4)
Chance4
85
85
Spermicides5
26
6
40
Periodic Abstinence
Calendar
Ovulation Method
Sympto-thermal6
Post-ovulation
25
9321
63
Cap7
Parous women
Nulliparous women
4020
269
4256
Sponge
Parous women
Nulliparous women
4020
209
4256
Diaphragm7
20
6
56
Withdrawal
19
4
Condom8
Female (Reality)
Male
2114
53
5661
Pill
Progestin only
Combined
5
0.50.1
71
IUD
Progesterone T
Copper T 380A
LNg 20
2.00.80.1
1.50.60.1
817881
Depo Provera
0.3
0.3
70
Norplant and Norplant-2
0.05
0.05
88
Female sterilization
0.5
0.5
100
Male sterilization
0.15
0.10
100
Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Treatment initiated within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse reduces the risk of pregnancy by at least 75%.9
Lactational Amenorrhea Method: LAM is a highly effective temporary method of contraception.10
Among typical couples who initiate use of a method (not necessarily for the first time), the percentage who experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year if they do not stop use for any other reason.
Among couples who initiate use of a method (not necessarily for the first time) and who use it perfectly (both consistently and correctly), the percentage who experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year if they do not stop use for any reason.
Among couples attempting to avoid pregnancy, the percentage who continue to use a method for one year.
The percents becoming pregnant in columns (2) and (3) are based on data from populations where contraception is not used and from women who cease using contraception in order to become pregnant.
Among such populations, about 89% become pregnant within one year.
This estimate was lowered slightly (to 85%) to represent the percentage who would become pregnant within one year among women now relying on reversible methods of contraception if they abandoned contraception altogether.
Foams, creams, gels, vaginal suppositories, and vaginal film.
Cervical mucus (ovulation) method supplemented by calendar in the pre-ovulatory and basal body temperature in the post-ovulatory phases.
With spermicidal cream or jelly.
Without spermicides.
The treatment schedule is one dose within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, and a second dose 12 hours after the first dose. Preven is the only dedicated product specifically marketed for emergency contraception. The Food and Drug Administration has also declared the following brands of oral contraceptive to be safe and effective for emergency contraception: Ovral (1 dose is 2 white pills), Alesse (1 dose is 5 pink pills), Nordette or Levlen (1 dose is 4 light-orange pills), Lo/Ovral (1 dose is 4 white pills), Triphasil or Tri-Levlen (1 dose is 4 yellow pills).
However, to maintain effective protection against pregnancy, another method of contraception must be used as soon as menstruation resumes, the frequency or duration of breastfeeds is reduced, bottle feeds are introduced, or the baby reaches 6 months of age.