The efficacy, acceptability and continuation of postpartum, post-abortive progestin-only pill: a pioneering prospective multicentric study from Turkey

OpenAlex · İngilizce

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, side-effects and continuation rate of the desogestrel-progestin-only-pill (POP) in postpartum and post-abortive Turkish women and its relation with breast-feeding. Material and Methods:In this prospective multicentric study women who delivered (or had surgical abortion) and wanted to receive POP for contraception were recruited to the study.The follow-up visits were scheduled at the third, sixth and ninth months. Results:Overall A total of 7,468 women (66.5% postpartum, 33.5% post-abortive) participated in the study.The number of women who attended follow-up visits in relation to the previous visit at the third, sixth and ninth months was 944/7,468 (12.6%), 406/944 (43%) and 121/406 (29.8%) respectively.The incidence of breastfeeding at all visits was between 54.8% and 68.4%.Out of the 7,468 women recruited only 6% continued with the method at the end of the ninth month.There was a statistically significant increase in hemoglobin level at the third month compared to initial values.Oligomenorrhea, spotting and headache were the three leading side-effects.There was no pregnancy among the patients who were followed up. Conclusion:This study demonstrated that POP was an effective postpartum and post-abortive contraceptive method that had no negative impact on breast-feeding.A change in bleeding patterns was the most common side-effect.However, the possible causes of low contraceptive maintenance rates need to be investigated.(