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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on April 22, 2004
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/deh180
© 2004 by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
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Received October 28, 2003
Accepted January 1, 2004

Article

Post-coital administration of levonorgestrel does not interfere with post-fertilization events in the new-world monkey Cebus apella

M.E. Ortiz 1*, R.E. Ortiz 1, M.A. Fuentes 2, V.H. Parraguez 2, H.B. Croxatto 3

1 Unit of Reproductive Biology and Development, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
2 Faculty of Veterinary and Animals Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
3 Unit of Reproductive Biology and Development, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Millenium Institute for Fundamental and Applied Biology, Santiago, Chile

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mortiz{at}genes.bio.puc.cl.


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: Experimental evidence to disprove the belief that emergency contraception with levonorgestrel (LNG) prevents pregnancy by interfering with post-fertilization events is lacking. Here we determined the effect of post-coital and pre-ovulatory administration of LNG on fertility and ovulation, respectively, in the Cebus monkey. METHODS: To determine the effect on fertility, LNG 0.75 mg or vehicle were administered orally or s.c. once or twice within the first 24 h after mating occurring very close to the time of ovulation. Females that became pregnant were aborted with mifepristone and re-entered the study after a resting cycle until each of 12 females had contributed, in a randomized order, two LNG and two vehicle-treated cycles. To determine the effect on ovulation, LNG 0.75 mg or vehicle were injected twice coinciding with follicles smaller or larger than 5 mm in diameter. Six females contributed five treated cycles each. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate was identical in vehicle- and LNG-treated cycles. LNG inhibited or delayed ovulation only when treatment coincided with a follicle <5 mm diameter. CONCLUSION: In Cebus monkeys, LNG can inhibit or delay ovulation but, once fertilization has taken place, it cannot prevent the establishment of pregnancy. These findings do not support the hypothesis that emergency contraception with LNG prevents pregnancy by interfering with post-fertilization events.

Key words: Key words: Cebus monkey/emergency contraception/levonorgestrel


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