[Effect of pretreatment counseling on discontinuation rates in women given depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate for contraception].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of pre-treatment counseling on discontinuation rates of 150 mg depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), given for contraception.


METHODS
A total of 421 women participated, 204 receiving intensive structured pre-treatment and on going counseling on the hormonal effects and probable side effects of DMPA and 217 receiving only routine counseling. All participants were followed up at every 3 months for 1 year. The primary endpoint was termination rate, secondary endpoints were frequency of medical events and reasons for termination.


RESULTS
The most common reasons for terminating DMPA were menstrual changes. Although women in the intensive structured counseling group reported more menstrual irregularity (39.7%) than did women in the routine counseling group (26.3%), study termination rates were significantly lower in the intensively structured counseling group than in the routine counseling group. At one year, the total cumulative termination rates were 11.3% (23/204) and 42.4% (92/217), respectively (P < 0.0001). No pregnancy and serious medical events were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-treatment counseling on expected side effects increases the acceptability of DMPA.
Lei
Z
Z
Sichuan Reproductive Health Institute, Chengdu.
Wu
S
S
Garceau
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016312:Treatment Refusal
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate