Can unintended pregnancies be reduced by dispensing a year's worth of hormonal contraception?

Abstract

Q. Can unintended pregnancies be reduced by dispensing a year's worth of hormonal contraception? Evidence-based answer: probably, although studies that looked directly at this outcome are limited. A systematic review showed that women who received a larger number of pills at one time were more likely to continue using combined hormonal contraception 7 to 15 months later (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, consistent evidence from 2 cohort studies and 1 randomized, controlled trial), which might be extrapolated to indicate lower unintended pregnancy rates. One of the large retrospective cohort studies included in the review demonstrated a significantly lower rate of pregnancy among women who received 12 or 13 packs of oral contraceptives at an office visit compared with 1 or 3 packs (SOR: B, large retrospective cohort study).