title: Body weight and bleeding pattern changes in women using DMPA-SC.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the 1-year efficacy of contraception, changes in bleeding pattern and weight with the use of Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate-subcutaneous injected subcutaneously once every 3 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive case-series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, from March 2003 to June 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty five patients were selected by purposive sampling and followed up in Holy Family Hospital, Gynaecology and Obstetric Unit for a one-year period using DMPA-SC every three months. Hospital Ethical Committee permission was obtained prior to commencement of the study. Informed written consent was taken. Body weight was measured at baseline and every 3 months thereafter. Bleeding analysis in terms of blood flow and severity of bleeding was also done at 3 months interval using a 5-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DMPA-SC showed 100% efficacy in preventing pregnancy in the 25 patients who were followed up. Mean and SD of age was 34.24+/-3.57 years. Mean and SD of weight was 63.44+/-13.81 kg.There was a mean weight gain of 0.1 kg at visit 1-3 (first 3 months) and an average weight gain of 1.036 kg at the end of the year. There was a trend towards amenorrhea with 56% of the patients included in the category of bleeding less than usual at the end of treatment period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DMPA-SC can be used in women desiring reversible contraception with unremarkable weight gain and overall bleeding pattern leading towards amenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Rizwana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaudhri
authors.forename: Farwa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afzal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone