use-effectiveness of the combined contraceptive methods: standard days method, condom and emergency contraceptive pills

ABSTRACT

In our country about 20% of couples are using natural methods of family planning or none of the family planning methods. The Standard Days Method is a fertility awareness-based method of family planning in which users avoid unprotected intercourse during cycle days 8 through 19. The aim of this experimental study was to determine the use-effectiveness of the combined contraceptive methods: Standard days method, condom and emergency contraceptive pills. A total of 240 women, age I 7-40 years, in rural area in the west of Tabriz city, with self-reported cycles of 26-32 days, desiring to delay pregnancy at least one year were admitted to the study. After teaching the method to the subjects, they followed-up for 12 months to complete the study or excluded from study. Pearl pregnancy rate was used to determine percentage of protection of unplanned pregnancy. Analysis of data indicated that 117 women didn't get pregnant until the end of study [12 months]. Only 8 women got pregnant, and a total of 1956 woman-months out of 240 women was calculated. So first-year pregnancy rate was 4.91% and percentage of protection of unplanned pregnancy was 95.09 irrespective of correct or incorrect use. The results show that this combined method may be an effective and acceptable method for couples