Acceptability of injectable contraceptives in Assiut, Egypt.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Injectable progestogen-only contraceptives are widely used for fertility control.
• Understanding the comparative efficacy and side effect profiles of different formulations is crucial for informed patient choice.
• Women seeking fertility termination often utilize these methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy, side effects, and continuation rates of depotmedroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) in women in Assiut, Egypt.
• To identify the primary reasons for discontinuation among users of these two injectable contraceptives.

Main Methods:

• A randomized comparative study involving 400 women.
• Group 1 received 150 mg DMPA every 84 days.
• Group 2 received 200 mg NET-EN every 56 days.

Main Results:

• Menstrual disruption, particularly amenorrhea, was the most common side effect and reason for discontinuation in both groups.
• DMPA users experienced more frequent menstrual irregularities compared to NET-EN users.
• One-year continuation rates were higher for DMPA (68.8%) than for NET-EN (57.1%).
• Pregnancy rates were low in both groups, with some pregnancies potentially preceding the first injection.

Conclusions:

• Both DMPA and NET-EN are effective injectable contraceptives with low pregnancy rates.
• DMPA offers better long-term continuation despite a higher incidence of menstrual side effects.
• Menstrual disruption is a significant factor influencing discontinuation for both contraceptive methods.