Changes in bleeding patterns with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate subcutaneous injection 104 mg.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a widely used contraceptive.
• Understanding bleeding patterns is crucial for contraceptive adherence and user satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in menstrual bleeding patterns associated with DMPA 104 mg/0.65 ml subcutaneous injection (DMPA-SC 104).

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from two 1-year noncomparative trials (N=1787) and one 2-year randomized trial comparing DMPA-SC 104 (N=266) with DMPA intramuscular injection (DMPA-IM).
• Bleeding patterns were assessed per 30-day interval, including analysis of age and BMI subgroups.
• Shift from bleeding/spotting to amenorrhea was tracked after each injection.

Main Results:

• Continued DMPA-SC 104 use demonstrated a decreased incidence of irregular bleeding and an increased rate of amenorrhea.
• Amenorrhea rates at 12 months (52-64%) and 24 months (71%) were comparable to DMPA-IM.
• No consistent differences in bleeding pattern changes were observed across age or BMI subgroups.

Conclusions:

• DMPA-SC 104 use is associated with a progressive increase in amenorrhea over time.
• These findings support DMPA-SC 104 as an effective option for managing menstrual bleeding patterns in users.