Differences in Women Who Choose Subdermal Implants Versus Intrauterine Devices

To determine if there are any differences in the patient populations that choose subdermal implants versus intrauterine devices (IUDs) for contraceptive purposes.

Retrospective chart review. Electronic medical records of women who presented to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston's Regional Maternal Child Health Program Clinics in southeast Texas from March 2011 to March 2013 and received a subdermal implant or IUD were reviewed. Differences in characteristics of women who chose either form of contraception were determined.

A total of 356 charts were reviewed. Of those, 188 (53%) women chose the subdermal implant and 168 (47%) chose an IUD. Patients who chose subdermal implants were more likely to have had a long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) method previously (p<0.01), previous vaginal deliveries (p<0.001), and an interval from delivery to LARC placement of >1 year (p<0.001). LARC choice was race-specific in that, when compared to Caucasian women, African-American women were significantly more likely to choose an IUD, while Hispanic women were significantly more likely to choose subdermal implants (p=0.002).

Different populations choose subdermal implants versus IUDs for contraception. Further research is needed to determine etiologies for these differences.