HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Davidson, A R Articles by Rulin, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Davidson, A R Articles by Rulin, M

Injectable contraceptive discontinuation and subsequent unintended pregnancy among low-income women.

A R Davidson, D Kalmuss, L F Cushman, D Romero, S Heartwell and M Rulin

Center for Population and Family Health, Columbia University School of Public Health, New York City, NY, USA.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated rates of discontinuation of the recently introduced injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and postdiscontinuation rates of unprotected intercourse and unintended pregnancy. METHODS: A sample of 402 low-income, urban, minority women were interviewed when they initiated DMPA use and 12 months later. RESULTS: The 12-month life-table discontinuation rate was 58%, with half of the discontinuers stopping after only one injection. Menstrual changes and other side effects were the most frequently cited reasons for discontinuation. Approximately half of the discontinuers at risk for unintended pregnancy either did not make the transition to another contraceptive or used contraception only sporadically. The cumulative unintended pregnancy rate by 9 months postdiscontinuation was 20%. CONCLUSIONS: DMPA initiators were at substantial risk for unintended pregnancy because most quickly discontinued use and did not make the transition to consistent use of another contraceptive.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. B. Berenson, C. M. Radecki, J. J. Grady, V. I. Rickert, and A. Thomas A Prospective, Controlled Study of the Effects of Hormonal Contraception on Bone Mineral Density Obstet. Gynecol., October 1, 2001; 98(4): 576 - 582. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]