Norplant and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate effects on women's weights and blood pressures

Abstract

Introduction: Any method of contraception has its own benefits and misuses. None of these methods may be clinically applicable to all women. Effectiveness of contraceptive methods is of great importance when they are taken into account in birth control programs. Effectiveness and recklessness of the method play a crucial role in a woman's life. Human being found long-term, effective contraceptive methods, among which depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and norplant demonstrated very low failure rates.

Methods: This survey was a retrospective cohort study. In this study, 184 women referred to the selected clinics in Isfahan received DMPA and norplant. They were surveyed for changes in their weights and blood pressures for a period of 3-6 months. To analyze the data, t test and analysis of variance were applied.

Results: Data analysis showed a significant difference between women's weight before taking norplant and that of 6 months later while no significant difference was found in DMPA group. Regarding systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes, we found just a significant difference in systolic blood pressure of the norplant group between the baseline measurement and that of 6 months later.

Conclusion: Those patients who use norplant should be controlled biannually for significant weight and blood pressure changes to be able to consider alternative methods for them.