Does Oral Desogestrel Prior to Insertion of the Etonogestrel Subdermal Implant Improve Continuation Rate at One Year?
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2019-09-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Objective: The etonogestrel subdermal implant (ESI) is an effective and safe method of
contraception. Although highly efficient, ESI produces often side effects that reduce its
tolerance and acceptance. Daily oral desogestrel (DSG) prior to the insertion of ESI might
help reduce its premature discontinuation. Our aim was to evaluate if this pre-treatment
increases ESI's tolerance.
Methods: Between 15.08.2016 and 30.09.2019, the investigators conducted a randomized
prospective study of women aged 18 to 42 years who were interested to use Implanon and were
willing to have 90 days of pre-treatment with DSG, in the family planning clinic of the
Geneva University Hospitals and the Hospital of Basel. Women were randomized into either the
study ESI only group or to the DSG + ESI group. In the DSG + ESI group, patients were given a
3 months' supply of 75µg of DSG before the insertion of the ESI.
A 3 months visit was pre-programmed for all participants where the bleeding calendar and the
questionnaires were collected. All patients were called over the phone after 12 months post
ESI insertion in both groups.