[Long-acting reversible contraception methods in women under 26 years of age]

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods have proven their high safety and efficacy for pregnancy prevention and they are specially indicated in young and vulnerable population, but their use encounter barriers both between providers and users due to lack of information or to the economic cost. The aim of this study was to assess the use of two LARC methods, intrauterine device (IUD) and implant, in minors under 26 years old after giving an adequate contraceptive advice and subsidizing them in vulnerability situations. To analyze the population that chooses them, the side effects, the reasons for abandoning and the permanence time.

Retrospective descriptive study of IUD and implants inserted to minors under 26 years old from January 2016 to December 2019 at the Municipal Health Center of Usera belonging to Madrid Salud. Data is collected from n=266 women who started using IUD or implant. 87 copper IUD, 37 medicated IUD and 142 implants have been placed.

Increased prescription of both methods, with significant implant use in the last year of the study. There has been vulnerability in 91.7% of women. The average age of IUD users is about 21.4 years, almost 2 years older than that of the implant and they have more children. The side effects frequency has been similar with both methods, being abnormal bleeding as the most frequent side effect. 31% of copper IUD, 32% of medicated IUD and 12% of implants have been removed early. The average permanence time was 19.3 months (SD=13.3), 89.1% remained at the end of the first year, 81.2% at two years and 77.4% at three years.

An adequate contraceptive advice and free access are essential keys for increasing the LARC methods use in this particularly vulnerable population. Few and minor side effects and high continuity rate have been found, especially for the implant.