Successful treatment of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate-related vaginal bleeding improves continuation rates in adolescents.

Publication/Presentation Date

3-19-2006

Abstract

High discontinuation rates for depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) in adolescents may contribute to the number of unintended pregnancies. Many cite vaginal bleeding as a reason for discontinuing DMPA use. In this study, we attempted to determine if treating DMPA-associated vaginal bleeding with monophasic oral contraceptive pills (OCP) raised continuation rates. A total of 131 patients who reported vaginal bleeding while on DMPA were included in this study and 83 were treated with monophasic OCP. Of those who received OCP, 38.7% reported that vaginal bleeding stopped completely, 51.8% reported that vaginal bleeding stopped temporarily, and 6.0% reported no change. Overall, 94% of enrolled patients who received OCP as a treatment for DMPA-associated vaginal bleeding continued DMPA use. Our findings indicate that vaginal bleeding due to DMPA can be successfully treated, leading to improvement in continuation rates.

Volume

6

First Page

353

Last Page

355

ISSN

1537-744X

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics

PubMedID

16547584

Department(s)

Department of Pediatrics

Document Type

Article

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