Title: Subdermal levonorgestrel implants: three years' experience in Cairo, Egypt.

POPLINE Document Number: 108662

Author(s):

Rizk DE

Source citation:

JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE, 1995 Sep;40(9):638-44.

Abstract:

Findings are reported from a three-year, advanced phase III clinical trial assessing the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of levonorgestrel implanted subdermally as a long-acting, low-dose, progestin-only contraceptive method for women. The prospective, observational study was conducted through the family planning clinic of Ain Shams University Hospital in Cairo, Egypt. There was a 0.98% net three-year cumulative pregnancy rate among the 350 women in the study. Menstrual disturbances, present in 25% of women during the third year, were the major side effects and ranged from amenorrhea to menorrhagia. The disturbances resulted in 28 removals, 19 due to amenorrhea. Medical complications, including headaches, hypertension, and non-insulin dependent diabetes; desire for pregnancy; and complications at the insertion site were the principal reasons for another 57 implant removals. No gynecologic or breast lesions have developed, and weight changes were not noted. The continuation rate after three years was 65.5%.

Keywords:

Egypt
Research Report
Levonorgestrel
Contraceptive Implants
Method Acceptability
Use-Effectiveness
Side Effects
Contraceptive Agents, Side Effects
Women
Africa, North
Africa
Developing Countries
Contraceptive Agents, Progestin
Contraceptive Agents, Female
Contraceptive Agents
Contraception
Family Planning
Contraceptive Methods
Contraceptive Usage
Contraceptive Effectiveness
Treatment
Demographic Factors
Population