A systematic review of effectiveness and safety of different regimens of levonorgestrel oral tablets for emergency contraception

Access to emergency contraception and its need for increasing awareness and convenience is very important nowadays. Post-coital or emergency contraception is a simple, reliable and effective strategy. However, the complications associated with the emergency contraception are needed to be addressed before its full potential is realized. The most challenging aspect is that healthcare personnel and potential users are both quite ignorant of this approach [1]. The other major obstacle which prevents the extensive use of emergency contraception is that both potential users and doctors believe that such approaches to contraception are accompanied with frequent and severe side-effects [2‐4]. Previous data suggest that, the significance of emergency contraceptive pills cannot be ignored any longer, since one million abortions and two million unwanted pregnancies could be prevented in the U.S. each year if its widespread use could be ensured [5].

Currently available commonly acknowledged hormonal method of post-coital contraception was first described by Yuzpe and Lancee [6] and Yuzpe et al.[7]. Based on the findings of these authors, each dosage included the combination of 200 μg ethinyl oestradiol and 2 mg dl-norgestrel given in two divided doses where the second dose was given after 12 h of the first dose, within 72 h of unprotected intercourse. Though the pregnancy rate was only 1.6%, there was a relatively high prevalence of side-effects (~50% of cases). Side effects including nausea and/or vomiting, this leads to decreased compliance of patients [8]. Even though the Yuzpe regimen has become an established and recommended method of emergency contraception, there is a need to reduce the incidence of adverse effects while maintaining effectiveness [9].

Levonorgestrel (LNG) is a synthetic, biologically active progestogen, structurally related to 19-nortestosterone, which may be used alone or in combination with estrogens for the prevention of unintended pregnancies following unprotected coitus [10]. LNG is only sought as a supportive method for irregular rather than regular use and LNG is intended to be used immediately after intercourse but prior to pregnancy has become recognized [11]. LNG is also safe and effective in women with type I and type II diabetes [12]. Levonorgestrel-only emergency contraceptive has an efficiency rate of 89% if it is used correctly within 72 h after unprotected intercourse. LNG also diminishes the risk of pregnancy, following a single act of mid-cycle unprotected sexual intercourse, from 8% on average, to 1.1% [13]. Every time the dose is delayed 12 h after starting emergency contraception treatment it reduces efficacy by about 50% [14].

LNG works in several different mechanisms depending on the cycle day of unprotected intercourse and the day on which the treatment is started. LNG may inhibit the process of ovulation, fertilization or implantation [15‐20]. However, there is no direct clinical indication that supports these mechanisms. Emergency contraception is effective only before a fertilized egg is implanted because it can’t disrupt an existing pregnancy, i.e., emergency contraceptives are not abortifacient [21]. Several studies suggested that the lowest concentration required to prevent ovulation is 0.48 nmol/L [22]. Hence, appropriate dosing is critical to ensure the prevention of pregnancy.

For emergency contraception, there is pharmacokinetic evidence for two doses of 0.75 mg of levonorgestrel, 12 h apart [23‐25]. The oral bioavailability of levonorgestrel is > 90%. However, this has been reported to depend on the dosage form and to be affected by a concomitant administration of estrogens [26, 27]. The peak concentration after a single oral dose of 0.75 mg of levonorgestrel is attained within 1 h after administration, with a half-life that is within 20 to 60 h [23‐25]. However, not much is known about the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of 1.5 mg of levonorgestrel in fertile women during the periovulatory period of the menstrual cycle [23].

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and side-effects of two treatments, when administered up to 72 h after unprotected coitus: a single dose of 1.5 mg levonorgestrel; and two separate doses of 0.75 mg levonorgestrel that are given 12 and 24 h apart. The main outcomes were pregnancy rates, proportions of pregnancies prevented, side-effects and timing of the first menstrual period after treatment. We also thought to analyze the effect of treatment delay on the efficacy of contraception.

Our idea was that all the regimens in consideration would have similar efficacy in preventing pregnancy. We also analyzed how the timing of contraception in relation to coitus influenced treatment effectiveness.

Six of the 14 trials were randomized, double blind studies of a single regimen. Eight trials included multiple groups of women given levonorgestrel tablets of different doses. The method of treatment allocation was not described, so we considered each group as a separate case series. The total number of treatment groups analyzed across all studies was 28. Of these groups, 11 evaluated tablets containing 0.75 mg levonorgestrel, and the others evaluated tablets containing other doses (Table 1).

Levonorgestrel has a prolonged half-life of around 24.4 h. This rationalizes considering single-dose LNG emergency contraception as well as two doses taken 12–24 h apart. Pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel was evaluated in a study using different dosing strategies in young, healthy, women [25]. This trial involved 24 women who were randomized to three levonorgestrel treatment groups: a single 0.75 mg dose, two 0.75 mg doses taken 12 h apart and two 0.75 mg doses taken 24 h apart. The pharmacokinetic profiles were similar with all three treatments. Plasma concentrations of levonorgestrel were 9.6 ± 0.38 nmol/L at 12 h and 6.2 ± 0.53 nmol/L at 24 h after the first 0.75 mg dose. Effective concentrations greater than 0.48 nmol/L were maintained for 48–60 h after the 12 and 24 h doses. The statistical investigations indicated no significant differences between groups in any of the pharmacokinetic parameters i.e. peak plasma concentration (C_max), time to reach peak plasma concentration (t_max), elimination rate constant (K_el), half-life (t_1/2) and area under plasma concentration-time curve AUC.

An investigation on the pharmacokinetics of 1.5 mg levonorgestrel in lactating women was also evaluated [28]. Twelve healthy breastfeeding participants received 1.5 mg of LNG. For 72 h after dosing, the women abstained from nursing and fed their infants with milk which was frozen previously. Sequential milk and blood samples were collected and assessed for LNG and sex hormone binding globulin for 120 h. LNG concentrations peaked in milk and plasma in 2-4 h and 1-4 h after dosing, respectively. Concentrations in milk were similar to those in plasma but were consistently lower. Projected infant exposure to LNG is 1.6 mg on the day of dosing, 0.3 mg on the second day and 0.2 mg on the third day.

Another study examined plasma LNG concentrations and pharmacokinetics after oral administration of a single 0.75 mg tablet [24]. Blood samples were collected sequentially over 72 h after dosing in a fasting state. C_max of LNG was 14.1 ± 7.9 ng/mL and t_max was 1.63 ± 0.74 h. Plasma concentration of LNG vs. time profiles were subjected to noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis for determining half-lives, apparent oral clearances (Cl/F), apparent volumes of distribution after oral administration (V/F) and mean residence time (MRT). The half-lives ranged from 16.2 h to 32.3 h (mean = 24.4 ± 5.3 h). The Cl/F was 7.06 ± 2.69 L/h, V/F was 260 ± 129 L and MRT was 27.8 ± 5.2 h.

In a different study, the pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel between female adolescents and adults were compared [29]. A total of 259 levonorgestrel plasma concentrations in 22 female adolescents were investigated. On average, C_max was 6.72 ng/mL and occurred at 1.43 h after dosing. With a mean 9.5% contribution from extrapolation, average AUC_0–∞ was 86.1 ng h/mL. Mean CL/F was 145 ml/min and mean V/F was 267 L (Table 2). However, the data from an adult study (304 levonorgestrel plasma concentrations in 16 women) were also reconsidered. Adolescents had a mean levonorgestrel C_max that was almost half of that detected in adults, with a mean ratio of 0.53 and a 90% CI (Table 2). The difference among the groups with respect to AUC_0–∞ was of borderline significance, with a mean ratio of 0.77. Also, the variance between the treatment groups with respect to CL/F was marginally significant, with a mean ratio of 1.31.

In addition, a group of investigators studied the pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel where compared dosages were two 0.75 mg doses taken 12 h apart, two 0.75 mg doses taken 24 h apart, and a single 1.5 mg dose [23]. In this trial, five women were randomized to be given all three treatments. They also received a four week washout period between the treatments. t_max was estimated 1.5–1.8 h after each of the two 0.75 mg doses and 2.6 h after the single 1.5 mg dose. C_max after the 1.5 mg single dose was about 50% greater than those after each 0.75 mg dose. The second dose of both the 12 and 24 h double dose regimens revealed a slightly higher C_max than that of the first dose. All three groups had similar mean LNG concentrations at 48 h.

For finding an acceptable levonorgestrel regimen for emergency contraception, a two-dose regimen 0.75 mg levonorgestrel 12 h apart and a single dose 1.5 mg levonorgestrel were studied in 1118 Nigerian women [30]. Eleven pregnancies were reported, among them 7 were in the two-dose group and 4 in the single dose group. The relative risk of pregnancies was similar in both groups. Also, the estimated success rate of 86.80% in the 0.75 mg group was significantly lower than the 92.99% for the 1.5 mg group (Table 3). Minor side effects were reported such as nausea, vomiting, menorrhagia, lower abdominal pains, headache, breast tenderness and dizziness. Considerably more women who were in the high-dose group reported headache, breast tenderness and heavy menstrual flow.

Another study considering the same dosage regimen among 3022 Nigerian women revealed similar effectiveness between the treatment groups. In the two-dose regimen, post-treatment pregnancy proportions were 0.57% whereas in the single-dose regimen, the proportion was 0.64% (Table 3). Most of the women menstruated in the first day of expected menses and the groups did not diverge regarding reported side effects. In general, the most common adverse event was nausea, which was accounted for about 22% of participants in both groups. Some of the participants also experienced fatigue, dizziness, headache, breast tenderness and lower abdominal pain [31].

A different study compared the efficacy of two doses of 0.75 mg levonorgestrel among 2071 Chinese women, given at either a 12 or 24 h interval, with the treatment period extended to 120 h after unprotected coitus [32]. The crude pregnancy rate was 2.0% in the 12 h group and 1.9% in the 24 h group. The prevented fraction of pregnancies was considered to be 75% in the 12 h group and 72% in the 24 h group (Table 3). The effectiveness of the 12 h regimen dropped significantly when there were further acts of coitus after treatment which was not observed in the 24 h group. The overall side-effects were mild and tolerable. Nausea and vomiting occurred in 10% of women whereas diarrhea and breast tenderness was significantly more common in the 12 h group. Also, the timing of menses did not vary between the two regimens.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated to what degree the usual dose of levonorgestrel or a single dose, given in the follicular phase, affects the ovulatory process during the subsequent period of five days [33]. Time of treatment was determined by the diameter of the dominant follicle. Every woman had equivalent diameter allocated for all her treatments. Follicular rupture failed to take place during the five day period in 44%, 50% and 36% of cycles respectively with the standard, single dose and placebo. Ovulatory dysfunction occurred in 35%, 36% and 5% of standard, single dose or placebo cycles, respectively, which is characterized by follicular rupture associated with absent, blunted or untimely gonadotropin surge.

Durand M et al. [18] studied the effects of short-term administration of levonorgestrel at different phases of the ovarian cycle on the pituitary-ovarian axis, corpus luteum function and endometrium. The participants were studied during two menstrual cycles. Transvaginal ultrasound and serum LH were performed in both cycles from the detection of urinary LH until ovulation. During the complete luteal phase, serum estradiol and progesterone were measured. An endometrial biopsy was also taken, which revealed the endometrial histology as normal in all ovulatory-treated cycles. Finally, they suggested that “intervention of LNG with the mechanisms initiating the LH preovulatory surge depends on the stage of follicle growth”. Thus, anovulation caused from disrupting the regular development and/or the hormonal activity of the developing follicle, only when LNG was given in the preovulatory phase.

Durand M et al. [34] analyzed endometrial expression and serum glycodelin concentrations during the luteal phase following oral levonorgestrel at various stages of the ovarian cycle. All the participants were studied during two consecutive cycles, namely a control cycle and the treatment cycle. During the luteal phase, serum progesterone and glycodelin were measured daily and an endometrial biopsy was taken for immuno-histochemical glycodelin-A staining. Levonorgestrel altered the luteal phase secretory pattern of glycodelin in serum and endometrium. The results accounted for the action of LNG in EC in those women who take LNG before the LH surge, based on the potent gamete adhesion inhibitory activity of glycodelin-A.

In a different study, 0.75 mg LNG was administered twice right before ovulation, to test whether LNG acts as an emergency contraceptive by stopping the pre-ovulatory LH surge and thereby delaying ovulation [19]. LNG was taken by twelve women on or before the day of the first significant increase in urinary LH in 12 cycles. The LH peak and the onset of next menses were delayed (16.8 days) in 30% participants. Despite a normal LH peak and cycle length, one woman did not ovulate at all. LNG did not affect ovulation or the cycle length in the remaining eight participants, but the length of the luteal phase and the total luteal phase LH concentrations were considerably reduced.

Noé G et al. [35] aimed to evaluate whether levonorgestrel administered after ovulation is equally effective to LNG administered before ovulation. Blood samples were taken for analysis of LH, estradiol and progesterone concentrations on the day of LNG administration and during five days’ follow-up. Vaginal ultrasound analyses were also done for size of the leading follicle and/or corpus luteum. 122 women among the total of 388 women had coitus on fertile cycle days according to ultrasound and endocrine findings. 87 women were in days −5 to −1 and 35 women were in day 0 or beyond at the time of LNG intake. Estimated numbers of pregnancies among the 87 and 35 women were 13 and 7 respectively, while actually 0 and 6 pregnancies respectively occurred.

Menstrual bleeding pattern after using 1.5 mg levonorgestrel in a single dose was also examined [36]. The observed bleeding patterns after treatment were compared with usual patterns reported by the participants and with patterns observed in a previous study on women who had not taken any emergency contraceptives. Treatment in the first three weeks of the menstrual cycle significantly reduced that cycle as compared with both the usual cycle length and with the cycle duration in a comparison group. The magnitude of this outcome was greater if the pills were taken earlier. Additionally, the duration of the first menstrual period after treatment increased significantly with cycle week of treatment. This timeline was longer in participants who used the treatment than in those who did not.

From the pharmacokinetic perspective, levonorgestrel was rapidly absorbed after either one single or two administrations at a 12 or 24 h time interval of levonorgestrel 750 μg oral tablets. Also, the ADME profiles of levonorgestrel following the three different treatment regimens were similar [25]. The blood levels following administration of the first of two tablets (at 12 h interval) in the emergency contraceptive regimen were maintained for a sufficiently long period of time to prevent further unwanted fertilization [24]. Nevertheless, levonorgestrel was generally well tolerated by adolescents (single dose, 0.75 mg). The differences in observed total concentration were not likely to be seen in the unbound concentration. So, there is no reason based on pharmacokinetic data to expect that adolescents will experience greater adverse effects or lesser therapeutic effects after administration of the usual dose of LNG EC [29].

The AUC after administration of one single dose of 1.5 mg LNG was greater than two doses of 0.75 mg with a 12 or 24 h interval. Therefore, the administration of a single larger dose was more effective than the same amount of LNG divided into two doses [23]. On the other hand, nursing mothers might need EC but when a medication is taken by nursing women, the risks and benefits of taking that drug must first be weighed. Since LNG passes rapidly into the milk (single dose, 1.5 mg), the period of maximum LNG excretion in milk should be avoided and nursing should be discontinued and milk discarded for an interval of at least 8 h, but not longer than 24 h, after the use of EC [28].

From clinical point of view, the single 1.5 mg regimen of levonorgestrel appeared more effective than the split doses of 0.75 mg taken twice 12 h apart, not in terms of raw pregnancy rate or relative risk but in terms of effectiveness rate. The earlier each regimen was given after unprotected sexual intercourse, the more was the efficacy [30]. However, some authors claimed that the regimen of single-dose levonorgestrel was non-inferior and as well tolerated as the two-dose regimen. The patients requested EC did so because they were not using contraception at coitus. So it was suggested that levonorgestrel EC should be offered up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse [31]. In case of a 0.75 mg regimen, the 24 h double dose levonorgestrel regimen was as effective as the 12 h regimen for emergency contraception up to 120 h after unprotected intercourse [32]. All the treatment regimens were well tolerated except some common side-effects and did not have any lasting effect on the individuals.

While assessing the mode of action of levonorgestrel, it was observed that LNG used for EC prevents pregnancy primarily by interfering with the ovulatory process and method failures are most likely due to treatment given too late to effect such intervention. No association was found between the usage of LNG and the risk of pregnancy complications, major congenital malformations or any other adverse pregnancy outcomes in case of its failure as an emergency contraceptive [37, 38]. In addition, single administration of 0.75 mg LNG was at least as effective as the standard two-dose regimen for inhibiting ovulation [33]. However, preovulatory administration of LNG suppresses ovulation in most but not all cases. Hinderance of LNG with the mechanisms involved in initiating the Luteinizing hormone preovulatory surge depends on the stage of follicular development. Thus, anovulation results from disrupting both normal maturation and hormonal natural action of a growing follicle [18]. Other plausible mechanism of actions of LNG such as retardation of the endometrium, interfering with sperm motility and changing cervical mucus [19]. This is because the in vitro effect of LNG as EC on sperm fertilizing capacity and embryo development remains poorly understood in various other potential studies [39‐41].

Hormonal EC with LNG can alter endometrial glycodelin secretion in two important phases of the cycle when taken before the LH surge [42]. The first is during the fertile window and the second is the phase of uterine receptivity, both of which are of interest because of their antifertility activity [34]. However, it was observed that neither the glycodein level nor the proportion of motile sperm and cervical mucus is influenced by LNG [43]. Also, emergency contraception of levonorgestrel (1.5 mg) in a single dose taken in the first 3 weeks of the menstrual cycle shortened that cycle. The degree of this effect was higher than the earlier the pills were taken. This regimen taken later in the cycle had no effect on cycle length but caused prolongation of the next menstrual episode [36]. So it is important to note that, LNG-EC is very effective in preventing pregnancy when it is administered before ovulation, but it is ineffective in such once fertilization has occurred [44]. That’s why LNG-EC is less effective than regular contraceptives and its use should be controlled to emergency situations [35].

For emergency contraception, the US-FDA approves two doses of levonorgestrel 0.75 mg. The first dose should be taken within 72 h of unprotected intercourse and the second dosage, 12 h after the initial dosage. On the other hand, a single dose of levonorgestrel 1.5 mg is also safe and effective for emergency contraception. Based on previous research findings, pharmacokinetic data and patient outcomes; the single dose strategy is warranted. Additionally, in case of two doses of levonorgestrel 0.75 mg, the second dosage can be taken within 24 h after the first dosage and the effectiveness of the drug would not be compromised. The clinical significance of this information is critical for clinicians instructing patients or prescribing levonorgestrel for emergency contraception.