Postabortion Initiation of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception by Adolescent and Nulliparous Women in New Zealand

Could the contraceptive counselling improve contraceptive choice after abortion? A multicentric study to evaluate patients' perception

INTRODUCTION

24 % of abortion in Italy are repeated procedure. The cause of repeated abortion can be traced back to the inadequacy of the contraceptive counseling during the previous admission or to the adoption of an ineffective contraception method. This study aims to evaluate the Italian situation on the perceived quality of contraceptive counselling by patients undergoing abortion. The second aim is to verify if the chosen methods were available for immediate start.

STUDY DESIGN

Multicentric, prospective, non-interventional, non-randomized, non-pharmacological clinical observational study. We analyzed anonymous questionnaires on contraceptive counseling and LARC (Long Acting Reversable Contraceptives) availability and SARC (Short Acting Reversable Contraceptives) prescription at hospital discharge, distributed to women who requested abortion.

RESULTS

1074 participants on 15 hospitals through Italy. 82 % of the interviewees reported that they had received correct information regarding contraception. 74 % of the patients who chose LARC methods reported to have them inserted at the time of abortion. 73 % of women who had chosen a SARC method stated that they had received the prescription before discharge. After contraceptive counselling, we reported a significative reduction of "none or natural methods use" and a significant increase of SARC and LARC use compared to before the abortion.

CONCLUSION

Contraceptive counselling could allow a better contraceptive choice in patient who required abortion and we hope that future strategies will implement LARC choice. We think that a greater availability of LARC at an affordable price at the time of abortion could improve LARC choice. In case of SARC choice, we have to implement the prescription at hospital discharged.

The contraceptive choice at the time of a surgical and pharmacological abortion: a possible and effective option thanks to a dedicate counselling

The percentage of repeat abortion in Italy is about 25%. It is therefore important to implement the strategies that can facilitate the adoption of the most effective contraceptive methods. Long-acting reversible contraceptive methods are currently considered the most effective and with the highest rates of 12-months continuation, with a reported reduction of recurrent abortion. Our study has the aim to evaluate the contraceptive choice of women requesting abortion, when an accurate and dedicate counselling is offered and the availability of a LARC method is given immediately after pregnancy termination, both in case of surgical and medical abortion. LARC methods were chosen both in case of surgical and medical abortion, by an high percentage of patients. We reported no differences between the surgical and pharmacological groups on the choice of LARC and SARC. Our observational study shows the feasibility to perform an accurate, dedicate, and personalised counselling on contraception at time of abortion. This approach has enabled a high number of women to have a LARC method inserted at the time of abortion, as a valid strategy to prevent the risk unplanned pregnancy.

Acceptability of telemedicine for follow up after contraceptive implant initiation at an obstetrics and gynecologic training center

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has become a popular adjunct to in-person visits, including for family planning services. This study determined the proportion of clients participated in telemedicine services and the association between sociodemographic factors and telemedicine participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The adverse effects within the first seven days post-insertion were also reported.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study considered data from all women initiating contraceptive implantation between June 2020 and August 2021 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Clients were offered the following two options for follow-up visits: in-person or communication via an online LINE® Official Account (LINE® OA), a free chat application widely used among the Thais. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between socio-demographic factors and telehealth usage.

RESULTS

In total, 574 of 947 (60.6%) clients participated in telemedicine follow-up services during the period considered. A significant association between telemedicine usage and the following were observed: the peak of second wave COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, using the period preceding the second wave as a reference [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.96)]; participants receiving governmental benefits for contraceptive implant payment (aOR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.86-5.60), and timing of contraceptive implant(s) initiation, using interval insertion as a reference for which aORs of postpartum and immediate postpartum insertions were 0.62 (95% CI: 0.43-0.90) and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.24-0.52), respectively. Significant ecchymosis at the insertion site was observed in 13.1% of participants.

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes the significance of telemedicine during the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly in facilitating contraceptive implant initiation. Our data show a significant increase in the uptake and utilization of telemedicine during the pandemic's peak. The data also shows that during the period of Thailand's second COVID-19 epidemic, government benefits for contraceptive implant payment, and the timing of contraceptive implant initiation, are significantly associated with telemedicine use. This finding supports the continued use of telemedicine in healthcare, particularly for services like family planning, where remote follow-ups can provide safe, efficient, and timely care.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception for Adolescents: A Review of Practices to Support Better Communication, Counseling, and Adherence

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods, including levonorgestrel and copper intrauterine devices (IUDs) and the subdermal contraceptive implant, are the most effective reversible forms of contraception and thus are an important aspect of adolescent pregnancy prevention. While LARC efficacy, safety, and appropriateness are supported by major medical organizations and usage rates are increasing, overall LARC uptake among United States (US) adolescents remains lower than uptake of short-acting contraceptive methods. A better understanding of the barriers affecting adolescent LARC uptake and reasons for discontinuation could help facilitate effective communication. For example, learning how to improve adolescent-centered communication, shared decision-making, and motivational counseling strategies may be the first step to improving utilization rates. This narrative review includes three sections. First, this review will describe the history, mechanisms of action, and epidemiology of adolescent LARC use in the US and globally. Next, this review will describe key factors influencing adolescent LARC uptake, reasons for discontinuation, and multilevel barriers specific to adolescent LARC use. Finally, this review will characterize communication techniques and LARC counseling strategies for adolescents in the context of a reproductive justice approach set in the health belief model framework. The distinction between moving away from a presumptive counseling approach towards an adolescent-centered, shared decision-making approach to encourage parent-adolescent sexual health communication to lay the foundation of empowering adolescent reproductive autonomy should be the underpinning of all effective reproductive communication strategies.

The Prevalence of Ectopic Gestation: A Five-Year Study of 1273 Cases

Objective

This study aims to investigate the prevalence, related risk factors, manifestations, and management of ectopic pregnancy in the first hospital of the Jilin University over a five-year period.

Methods

A retrospective study of ectopic pregnancy was conducted in the First Hospital of the Jilin University between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014. The results were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and reported as frequencies and percentages.

Results

The results revealed that out of 16,050 gynecological admissions to the hospital over the five-year period, there were 1273 ectopic pregnancies, with a prevalence rate of 7.93% of all gynecological admissions. The majority of these patients were aged 25-34 y and had a past history of abortion (61%) and uterine cavity surgery (38.6%), and a significant number were nulliparous (549, 43.1%). Bleeding accompanied by abdominal pain were the most common presenting complaints (65.2%). A unilateral salpingectomy was performed for most of these patients.

Conclusion

Ectopic pregnancy had notable morbidity over the five-year period under study, and a history of abortion and uterine cavity surgery were identified as associated risk factors that limited the future reproductive potential of nulliparous women. Therefore, targeted health education campaigns should be conducted in order to enlighten this group of women and the public at large.

Safety and Benefits of Contraceptives Implants: A Systematic Review

Progestin-only contraceptive implants provide long-acting, highly effective reversible contraception. We searched the medical publications in PubMed, CENTRAL, and EMBASE for relevant articles on hormonal implants published in English between 1990 and 2021. Levonorgestrel (LNG) 6-capsule subdermal implants represented the first effective system approved for reversible contraception. The etonogestrel (ENG) single rod dispositive has been widely employed in clinical practice, since it is a highly effective and safe contraceptive method. Abnormal menstrual bleeding is a common ENG side effect, representing the main reason for its premature discontinuation. Emerging evidence demonstrated that it is possible to extend the use of the ENG implant beyond the three-year period for which it is approved. The ENG implant could be an effective and discrete alternative to the IUD in young girls, such as post-partum/post-abortion. Implants should be inserted by trained skilled clinicians who previously provide adequate counselling about their contraceptive effect, benefits, and any possible adverse events. More studies are needed to validate the extended use of the ENG implant for up to 5 years.

Postabortion and Postpartum Intrauterine Device Provision for Adolescents and Young Adults

Adolescents are at high risk for unintended pregnancy and rapid repeat pregnancy, both of which can be associated with negative health and social outcomes. Intrauterine device (IUD) use has been shown to decrease unintended pregnancy and rapid repeat pregnancy. Evidence supports IUD insertion postabortion and postpartum as safe and practical for nearly all women, including adolescent and young adult women. Providers of adolescent gynecology can play an important role in decreasing repeat and unintended pregnancy among adolescents by increasing access to IUDs, reducing barriers to care, and providing IUDs immediately postabortion and postpartum.

Trends and determinants of postabortion contraception use in a Canadian retrospective cohort

OBJECTIVES

We aim to describe demographic trends associated with postabortion contraceptive choice, characteristics of intrauterine device (IUD) users and relation to subsequent abortion.

STUDY DESIGN

Our retrospective chart review study included all patients obtaining an abortion from 2003 to 2010 at the primary service provider in the Interior Health Region of British Columbia, tracking each patient for 5 years to detect subsequent abortion. We used descriptive statistics to analyze demographic trends and logistic regression to examine determinants of choosing an IUD and likelihood of subsequent abortion per contraceptive method.

RESULTS

Our study cohort included 5206 patients, 1247 (24.0%) of whom chose an IUD. Patients increased IUD use from 10.14% to 45.74% of the cohort over the study period. Mean age of those choosing an IUD significantly decreased over the study period [30.9±7.3 years in 2003 to 26.2±6.5 years in 2010 (p<.001)]. In multivariable analysis, factors associated with choosing an IUD postabortion were prior delivery [aOR=2.77 (95% CI 2.40-3.20)] and being older than 20 years [20-29 years: AOR=1.87 (1.51-2.32); or 30+ years: AOR=1.96 (1.54-2.50)]. Patients choosing an IUD were less likely to have a subsequent abortion compared to those selecting oral contraceptives [aOR=1.96 (95% CI 1.54-2.52)] or depomedroxyprogesterone acetate [aOR=1.84 (95% CI 1.36-2.49)].

CONCLUSIONS

We found an increasing trend of choosing an IUD after an abortion in our population, especially among youth. Patients who chose an IUD postabortion were less likely to have a subsequent abortion over the next 5 years.

IMPLICATIONS

An important strategy for reducing subsequent abortion is to ensure that those seeking abortion have accurate information on the comparative effectiveness of postabortion contraception methods. Educational efforts, alongside removal of cost and other barriers, will contribute to the prevention of subsequent abortion and improve equitable access to IUDs among the population.

Adolescent Contraception Use after Pregnancy, an Opportunity for Improvement

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To describe contraceptive method use by adolescent women in the 6 months after any pregnancy.

DESIGN

We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2011-2013 and 2013-2015 cycles of the National Survey of Family Growth.

SETTING

This survey is a nationally-representative population-based survey of reproductive aged women in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included respondents who had at least 1 pregnancy that ended within the contraceptive calendar period as well as before the month of the respondent's 20th birthday. Women were included even if they did not have a full 6 months' worth of data.

INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We examined contraception method use at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months post pregnancy regardless of pregnancy outcome (live birth, induced abortion, or miscarriage).

RESULTS

Our sample consisted of 337 women with a mean age of 18.5 years. Almost half (N = 158, weighted percentage = 43.5%) of adolescents were using no method of contraception at 1 month post pregnancy. By 6 months post pregnancy, only 143 of 287 women with data through 6 months (weighted percentage = 49.7%) were using more effective methods of contraception (long-acting reversible contraception or hormonal methods), and 83 of these 287 were using no method (weighted percentage = 29.2%), including 61 of 261 women who reported that their last pregnancy was unwanted. Women from racial and ethnic minorities were less likely to use the most effective contraceptive methods. Rapid repeat pregnancy occurred among 44 of 209 women in the subsample with 18 months' follow-up data (weighted percentage = 16.9%). Only 56 of 337 adolescents (weighted percentage = 19.0%) used long-acting reversible contraceptive methods at any time post pregnancy regardless of pregnancy outcome.

CONCLUSION

Contraceptive use, especially of the most effective methods, remains low for adolescent women by 6 months post pregnancy.

Chlamydia testing and diagnosis following initiation of long-acting reversible contraception: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) effectively protects against pregnancy but provides no protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

AIM

To compare rates of chlamydia testing and diagnosis for women initiating long-acting versus oral contraception.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective cohort study involving data collection for 6160 women initiating post-abortion contraception at a large New Zealand regional public hospital abortion clinic (2009-2012), with chlamydia testing data obtained from the local laboratory during two-year follow up. Negative binomial regression modelling examined the effect of contraceptive method on two outcome measures: chlamydia testing and chlamydia diagnosis (adjusting for potential covariates of age, ethnicity, past chlamydia infection, pregnancy history) in year one and two of follow up.

RESULTS

Two thousand seven hundred and twenty nine women (44%) received a LARC and 1764 (28.6%) were prescribed oral contraception. Adjusted testing rates differed by contraceptive method only in year one (P < 0.01): with higher rates among copper intrauterine device users (relative risk (RR) 1.2, 95% CI 1.06-1.35), and lower rates for implant users (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.99) compared with oral contraceptive users (reference group). No significant differences were observed in chlamydia diagnosis rates by contraceptive method (P > 0.05). Younger age, past chlamydia infection, Maori and Pacific ethnicity were associated with higher rates of chlamydia diagnosis (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Known STI-related risk factors (age, ethnicity, past infection) but not contraceptive method were independently related to rates of subsequent chlamydia diagnosis. This suggests that increased LARC uptake would not occur at the expense of chlamydia control. Regular screening and risk reduction advice (including condom use) are important chlamydia control measures for at-risk groups.