Cost savings from emergency contraceptive pills in Canada.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate cost savings from emergency contraceptive pills in Canada.

METHODS

We modeled cost savings when a single emergency contraceptive treatment was provided after unprotected intercourse and when women were provided emergency contraceptive pills in advance.

RESULTS

Each dollar spent on a single treatment saved $1.19--$2.35 (in Canadian currency), depending on the regimen and on assumptions about savings from costs avoided by preventing mistimed births. The dedicated products Preven (Shire Canada, Inc., Oakville, Ontario) and Plan B (Paladin Labs, Inc., Montreal) were cost-saving even under the least favorable assumption that mistimed births prevented today occur 2 years later. Each dollar spent on advance provision of Preven saved $1.24--$12.23, depending on the regular contraception method, on how consistently emergency contraception was used when needed, and on whether mistimed births were averted forever or simply delayed. Plan B was almost always cost-saving, although less so.

CONCLUSION

Emergency contraception was cost-saving whether provided when the emergency occurred or in advance to be used as needed. More extensive use of emergency contraception could save considerable medical costs by reducing unintended pregnancies.