Potential determinants of early discontinuation of Etonogestrel implant: a cohort prospective study

To assess the frequency of early discontinuation of Implanon as a method of contraception.

The cohort prospective study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq from January 2017 to January 2021, after approval from the ethics review committee of the College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriyha University, Bghadad, Iraq, and comprised women of childbearing age seeking long-acting contraception. The participants received Implanon, an etonorgestril implant, under local anaesthesia, and were followed up for 12 months for possible side effects. Data was analysed using SPSS 26.

There were 115 women with mean age 29.8±6 years (range: 15-44 years) and mean body mass index 27±4.9 kg/m2. Early discontinuation of the plant was done by 32(27.8%) subjects, and the overall incidence of early Implanon removal per 1,000 women per month was 14.47 (95% confidence interval: 10.24-20.47). Lower body mass index, dizziness and insertion-site side effects were the potential determinants of early discontinuation (p<0.05).

More than a quarter of the sample opted for early Implanon discontinuation. Low body mass index, dizziness and insertion-site side effects were potential determinants of early removal.