Australian women's experiences of the subdermal contraceptive implant: A qualitative perspective.
BACKGROUND
The number of prescriptions for contraceptive implants has steadily increased in Australia, but implant use is still low.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the study were to describe women's nuanced responses, and characterise their multidimensional and complex reasons for (dis)continuing use of the contraceptive implant.


METHODS
A descriptive qualitative approach was used for this study. A larger qualitative study using in-depth, open-ended interviews, conducted in New South Wales between 2012 and 2013 with 94 women aged 16-49 years who had used contraception, included 10 interviews containing accounts of implant use. The 10 interviews were analysed thematically in the present study.


RESULTS
The three main themes analysed from the 10 interviews were perceived benefits, undesirable experiences and perseverance.


CONCLUSIONS
The participants were well informed about the benefits of the implant. Many persevered with it for a significant period of time before discontinuing it, despite experiencing side effects such as bleeding or mood changes. A decision to discontinue was often only made after an accumulation of multiple side effects.
Kumiyo
K
Inoue
Marguerite
M
Kelly
Alexandra
A
Barrett
Deborah
D
Bateson
Kirsten I
KI
Black
Mary
M
Stewart
Juliet
J
Richters
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; C044815:etonogestrel; D017135:Desogestrel