1. Clinical experience and acceptability of the etonogestrel subdermal contraceptive implant
- Author
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Flores, J.B. Otero, Balderas, M. Lozano, Bonilla, M. Cortés, Vázquez-Estrada, L., Bonilla, M Cortés, and Vázquez-Estrada, L
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CONTRACEPTIVES , *HEMORRHAGE , *VAGINAL contraceptives , *DRUGS , *COMPARATIVE studies , *CONTRACEPTIVE drugs , *CONTROLLED release drugs , *LONGITUDINAL method , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *MENSTRUAL cycle , *PATIENT satisfaction , *SYNTHETIC progestagens , *RESEARCH , *STEROIDS , *EVALUATION research - Abstract
Objective: To evaluate efficacy, adverse effects, and user continuation rate of an etonogestrel subdermal single-rod contraceptive implant.Methods: A total of 417 healthy volunteers of childbearing age were included in this multicenter trial. After implant insertion, the women were followed up during the 3 years of contraceptive action. At each visit, clinical findings, side effects, and bleeding patterns were recorded. Efficacy and continuation rates were analyzed using the Pearl Index and Kaplan-Meier life tables, respectively.Results: The observation period totaled 958.5 woman-years (27.5 months per woman). The Pearl Index score was 0. Side effects were reported by 44.4% of users, but the proportion had decreased to 16.5% by the end of the study. The continuation rate was 61.4%. The most common reason for early discontinuation (in 21.1% of the participants) was menstrual disturbances.Conclusions: Etonogestrel subdermal contraceptive implants demonstrated high efficacy and an acceptable continuation rate. Counseling potential users explicitly about the side effects will optimize patient success with this long-acting contraceptive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2005
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