Prevention of errors when using oral contraceptives
M. Havlín
Gynecology & Obstetrics, Praxis of MUDr. P. Lipert, Prague, Czech
Republic
Accurate use of oral hormonal contraception (OHC) is the basic precondition
for the satisfaction of women who use it. One approach to reduce the percentage
of user errors is the use of a compliance card – called Mercilonka in the
Czech Republic. In 1998–2003, all women using low-dose OHC (15–20 mg
ethinylestradiol with various progestins) were interviewed to ascertain the
number of errors and occurrence rate of atypical bleeding. The results for women
using compliance card were compared with those of other women who were not using
the card. Patients using compliance card reported less errors (5.2% versus 8.9%
in the control group) as well as atypical bleedings (4.0% versus 6.8 %). The
pregnancy rate (Pearl index) was lower in the group of compliance card users
(0.02 versus 0.034). Compliance card is appropriate as an aid to reducing the
number of errors and improving the comfort of contraception.
