RT Journal A1 Mitka M T1 IUds effective but underused options for emergency and long-term contraception JF JAMA JO JAMA YR 2012 FD June 20 VO 307 IS 23 SP 2473 OP 2474 DO 10.1001/jama.2012.6004 UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.6004 AB The researchers found that IUDs inserted shortly after unprotected intercourse have a failure rate of less than 1 per 1000 and are more effective than “morning-after pills” in protecting women from unwanted pregnancies. The meta-analysis, which included 42 studies conducted in 6 countries between 1979 and 2011 and involved 8 different types of IUDs and 7034 women, found a pregnancy rate of 0.09% among women using IUDs inserted from 2 to 10 or more days (74% within 5 days) after unprotected intercourse, a rate 10 to 20 times better than that found with emergency contraception medications such as ulipristal acetate and levonorgestrel (Cleland K et al. Hum Reprod. doi:10.1093/humrep/des140 [published online May 8, 2012]).