Dr. Howard Smith Reports

The Morning After Pill Less Effective For The Obese


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Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/wCUz9n6QOkQ

 

Even a double dose of Plan B, levonorgestrel, the most common morning after pill, fails to significantly reduce the chances of ovulation and therefore pregnancy in obese women.  Oregon Health and Science University investigators studied 70 women with a mean age of 28, a mean body mass index of 38, and a body weight of greater than 175 pounds.

 

The group of participants receiving the standard 1.5 mg dose of the progesterone levonorgestrel experienced only a 51% incidence of ovulation prevention while the group receiving the 3 mg double dose had only a 69% ovulation prevention.  Not every effective.  While the higher dose did inhibit egg release somewhat, the extra protection it afforded was not statistically significant and did not provide reliable emergency contraceptionS.

 

The OBGYN clinicians participating in the study recommend that obese women requiring emergency contraception consider asking their medical teams for ulipristal, marketed as Ella and EllaOne.  This drug is a selective progesterone receptor modulator and does work effectively in heavier women.

 

https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/2022/07000/double_dosing_levonorgestrel_based_emergency.8.aspx

 

#morningafterpill #obesity #ovulation #planB #levonorgestrel #Ella #ulipristal

 

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Dr. Howard Smith ReportsBy Howard G. Smith MD, AM