title: Long-acting hormonal contraception.
abstract: Today, a new category of fertility-regulating agents has been created: long-acting, reversible hormonal contraceptives; they minimize compliance, while maximize effectiveness. They comprise subdermal implants and intrauterine devices. Other long-acting agents exist, such as Depo Provera and Noristerat. Use of Depo Provera and Noristerat carries great effectiveness, good clinical safety and usefulness in developing countries. They cause no significant increase in breast cancer risk, but they may carry an increased risk of HIV. Subcutaneous delivery systems have two common features: prolongation of effect is obtained by a drug reservoir and for most of their duration of action they provide a continuous, sustained release of the active hormone. Finally, the intrauterine system Mirena represents both a very effective contraceptive and a specific treatment for menorrhagia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics & Urology, University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benagiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 700 W Olney Rd, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gabelnick
authors.affiliation: Leuven Institute for Fertility & Embryology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brosens
mesh_terms: D003267:Contraception / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations
keywords: Depot–Depo Provera; Implanon; Jadelle; Mirena; Noristerat; Uniplant; injectable contraceptives; intrauterine contraceptive systems; long-acting contraceptives; subcutaneous contraceptive implants