Original Investigation

Etonogestrel contraceptive implant (Implanon): analysis of patient compliance and adverse effects in the breastfeeding period

10.5152/jtgga.2010.21

  • Candan İltemir Duvan
  • Elif Gözdemir
  • İkbal Kaygusuz
  • Zeynep Kamalak
  • Nilgün Öztürk Turhan

Received Date: 05.04.2010 Accepted Date: 05.08.2010 J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2010;11(3):141-144 PMID: 24591920

Objective:

To analyse the compliance of patients and side effects of Implanon® during breast feeding.

Material and Methods:

Prospective study of 61 postpartum women who chose Implanon® for long term contraception between April 2007 and December 2009. Compliance, side effects and removals were recorded.

Results:

Amenorrhoea, prolonged bleeding, frequent bleeding and infrequent bleeding were reported in 20 (32%), 13 (21%), 4 (6.5%) and 2 (3.2%) patients, respectively. Non-menstrual side effects experienced by participants included; weight gain reported by 10 patients (16%), anxiety by 6 (9.8%), breast tenderness by 4 (6.5%), headache by 4 (6.5%), pain at the insertion site by two (3.2%), hirstutism by two (3.2%), acne by 1 (1.6%), loss of libido by 1 (1.6%), weight gain and headache by two (3.2%), weight gain and anxiety by two (1.6%). The mean breastfeeding period was 16±7.4 /months. During the follow up, Implanon® was removed from 24 patients (39%).

Conclusion:

If patients are well informed about its expected side effects before placement, Implanon® is well tolerated and i an acceptable choice for women who have recently experienced labor and are looking for long term reversible contraception.

Keywords: Implanon, etonogestrel, postpartum contraception, breastfeeding, compliance, side effect, removal