Pearl Index
Pearl Index
The Pearl Index, also known as the Pearl rate or the Pearl method, is a statistical measure used in the field of obstetrics and gynecology to determine the effectiveness of a particular birth control method. Pronounced as /pɜːrl ˈɪndɛks/, the term is named after Raymond Pearl, a prominent American biologist and biostatistician.
Etymology
The term "Pearl Index" is derived from the name of Raymond Pearl, who first proposed this method of measuring contraceptive effectiveness in the 1930s.
Definition
The Pearl Index is calculated by dividing the number of unintended pregnancies by the total number of months (or sometimes years) of exposure to a particular contraceptive method, and then multiplying the result by 1200 (to get the rate per 100 woman-years of exposure).
Related Terms
- Contraception: The deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse.
- Obstetrics and Gynecology: A branch of medicine that specializes in the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth and in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive organs.
- Biostatistics: The application of statistics to a wide range of topics in biology. It encompasses the design of biological experiments, especially in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture and fishery.
- Raymond Pearl: An American biologist, regarded as one of the founders of biogerontology. He spent most of his career at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pearl Index
- Wikipedia's article - Pearl Index
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