E-DRUG: Evidence that contraceptive choice matters - review
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Hi all
On 20 Jul 2006 I posted a request for information on E-DRUG on the following question (on behalf of the review team contracted by the WHO Policy, Access and Rational Use (PAR)/Medicines Policy and Standards (PSM) and Reproductive Health and Research (RHR) departments):
"Does a policy of providing a wide range of contraceptive methods, as opposed to the provision of a limited range, improve health outcomes including: contraceptive uptake, acceptability, adherence, continuation and satisfaction; reduction of unintended pregnancy; and improved maternal health and wellbeing."
The final report - "Systematic review of contraceptive medicines - Does choice make a difference? was submitted in October 2006. The report is now available at:
http://mednet3.who.int/EML/expcom/expcom15/applications/sections/ContraChoiceReview.pdf,
and will serve before the 15th EML committee in March 2007. Like all documents for that meeting, it is open for public comment, which would be welcomed.
Two contraceptive methods have been proposed for addition to the List by the Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research:
- a two-rod levonorgestrel-releasing implant (each rod containing 75 mg of levonorgestrel) - see http://mednet3.who.int/EML/expcom/expcom15/applications/newmed/implcontracep/implantable_LNG.pdf and
- a combined injectable contraceptive )containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) 25 mg plus estradiol cypionate (E2 C) 5 mg) - see http://mednet3.who.int/EML/expcom/expcom15/applications/newmed/injcontracep/inj_contraceptive.pdf
Comments on the review document and all proposed additions/deletions/new formulations can be sent (before 31 January 2007) to:
The Secretary of the Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines
Policy, Access and Rational Use
Department of Medicines Policy and Standards (PSM)
Health Technology & Pharmaceuticals
World Health Organization
20 Avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
emlsecretariat@who.int
To stimulate some thought, I've included the conclusions from the review and the references cited in that section.
regards
Andy Gray