Contraception. 2013 May 23. pii: S0010-7824(13)00259-X. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2013.05.009. [Epub ahead of print]
One-year continuation of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant in women with postabortion or interval placement
Mark A, Sonalkar S, Borgatta L
Ipas, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: marka@ipas.org
BACKGROUND:
Our study investigated whether women with etonogestrel implant placement in the immediate postabortion period have similar continuation rates to women with interval placement.
STUDY DESIGN:
This is a prospective cohort study of women at Boston Medical Center. We compared 1-year continuation rates in women who had immediate postabortion placement to interval placement using Cox proportional hazard models.
RESULTS:
One hundred five women were enrolled, 53 in the abortion and 52 in the interval group. There were two losses to follow-up leaving 103 women for analysis. The overall 1-year continuation rate was 74.8%, with 68.6% postabortion continuation and 80.8% interval continuation. The risk of discontinuation in women with postabortion placement was higher but not statistically different than women with interval placement (unadjusted hazard ratio: 1.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.81-3.96).
CONCLUSION:
Overall etonogestrel implant continuation was acceptable with similar rates for postabortion and interval placement. For women who want a contraceptive implant after an abortion, immediate placement should be available.
Comment: If a woman wants long acting, reversable contraception when she comes for an abortion, there is no need to wait with the placement until the follow up visit. (HMV)