Elsevier

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Volume 88, Issue 2, August 1996, Pages 227-233
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Experiences of injectable contraceptive users in an urban setting

https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-7844(96)00194-9Get rights and content

Objective

To examine method-related experiences and acceptability of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) among women using this contraceptive for the first time.

Methods

Five hundred thirty-six women who received an injection of DMPA from any of seventeen clinical settings in southeast Texas, United States, were followed for 1 year. At each follow-up visit, patients were asked about their experiences with DMPA during the past 3 months and their plans to use this method in the future.

Results

Amenorrhea, irregular bleeding, and weight gain were the conditions reported most frequently. Reports of amenorrhea, weight gain, and acne or skin problems increased over time, but complaints of longer periods decreased (P <.001). Two pregnancies occurred during the study period. However, of these, one existed before the first injection. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate's continuation rate at 1 year was 28.6%. Heavier and more frequent bleeding, increased cramping, amenorrhea, weight gain, headaches, depression, and nervousness were more frequent complaints of women who discontinued DMPA (P <.05), whereas lighter and less frequent bleeding were reported more often by those who continued to use this method (P <

Conclusion

Intolerable side effects and changes in menstrual pattern are the most frequently indicated reasons for discontinuing DMPA use. Our results suggest that DMPA's 1-year continuation rate may be lower than previously reported.

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    2020, Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology
    Citation Excerpt :

    Injectable: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) was the first non-oral formulation of hormonal contraception available in the United States, and early studies showing an association between DMPA and mood symptoms led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings about contraception and mood. The results from two early prospective descriptive studies published in 1996 and 1997 reported high discontinuation rates at 1 year (47% and 71%, respectively), with 6% (N = 18) of those stopping DMPA citing depression as the reason for discontinuation and up to 9% reporting ongoing depressive symptoms at 3 months following DMPA initiation [79,80]. Next, two studies by Westhoff and colleagues (1998) assessed for symptoms of depression with DMPA, but did not find a significant association [81,82].

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