Quinacrine sterilization (QS) in Syria: a preliminary report on 297 cases

To evaluate the safety, efficacy and acceptability of quinacrine sterilization (QS) in Syria.

From July 2001 to December 2002, 297 women who requested permanent sterilization volunteered for QS either in my private practice or my local family planning center in Aleppo, Syria. The standard protocol was used: 252 mg of quinacrine in the form of 7 pellets are deposited at the uterine fundus with a modified CuT IUD inserter during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. This procedure is repeated 4 weeks later. DMPA was injected at the time of the first insertion for temporary contraception. Every sterilized woman has had a monthly checkup visit until the cut-off date for this report, including a beta HCG pregnancy test. All procedures were performed by the author. The cut-off date for this report was June 11, 2003.

The single pregnancy was ectopic. Four women (1.3%) complained of severe pain. Moderate pain was experienced by 13.1% while the remaining women felt mild pain, all easily treated. The remaining side effects were minor and also easily treated. Oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea affected 29% of the women and lasted for several months. Immediate side effects are similar to reports from other researchers.

Results thus far regarding efficacy are encouraging. QS has proven to be acceptable.