Incidence of Discontinuation of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception among Adolescent and Young Adult Women Served by an Urban Primary Care Clinic

Abstract

Study objective: To estimate long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) discontinuation rates. Secondary aims were to determine risk factors for discontinuation, describe reasons for discontinuation, evaluate complications related to placement, and estimate pregnancy rates after discontinuation.

Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of LARC method use through review of electronic medical record data.

Setting: Our program is housed in an academic primary care pediatric and adolescent clinic in Baltimore, Maryland.

Participants: One hundred sixty women ages 12-24 years who received an intrauterine device or subdermal implant through our program between December 10, 2012 and December 10, 2015.

Interventions: None.

Main outcome measures: Complications from LARC insertion, device discontinuation, reason(s) for discontinuation, pregnancies resulting from device failure, and occurrence of pregnancy within 1 year of discontinuation.

Results: Thirty-five women discontinued their LARC method. The 6-month discontinuation rate was 11.3% and the 12-month rate was 21.9%. Discontinuation was associated with history of sexually transmitted infection (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-6.90). The most common reason for discontinuation was bleeding for the implant and expulsion for the intrauterine device.

Conclusion: Our results support the safety and low discontinuation rates of LARC provision to adolescents and young adult women in a primary care setting. Discontinuation rates and reasons are consistent with those described in other studies.

Keywords: Adolescent; Contraception; LARC; Long-acting reversible contraception.