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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 May;89(5):352-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.026. Epub 2014 Feb 7.

Randomized clinical trial of self versus clinical administration of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate

Anitra Beasley  1 , Katharine O'Connell White  2 , Serge Cremers  3 , Carolyn Westhoff  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomized clinical trial of self versus clinical administration of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate

Anitra Beasley et al. Contraception. 2014 May.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate feasibility, acceptability, continuation, and trough serum levels following self-administration of subcutaneous (sc) depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA).

Study design: Women presenting to a family planning clinic to initiate, restart or continue DMPA were offered study entry. Participants were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to self- or clinician administered sc DMPA 104 mg. Those randomized to self-administration were taught to self-inject and were supervised in performing the initial injection; they received printed instructions and a supply of contraceptive injections for home use. Participants randomized to clinician administration received usual care. Continued DMPA use was assessed by self-report and trough medroxyprogesterone acetate levels at 6 and 12 months.

Results: Two hundred fifty women were invited to participate, and 137 (55%) enrolled. Of these, 91 were allocated to self-administration, and 90/91 were able to correctly self-administer sc DMPA. Eighty-seven percent completed follow-up. DMPA use at 1 year was 71% for the self-administration group and 63% for the clinic group (p=0.47). Uninterrupted DMPA use was 47% and 48% for the self and clinic administration groups at 1 year (p=0.70), respectively. Serum analyses confirmed similar mean DMPA levels in both groups and therapeutic trough levels in all participants.

Conclusions: Sixty-three percent of women approached were interested in trying self-administration of DMPA, even in the context of a randomized trial, and nearly all eligible for enrollment were successful at doing so. Self-administration and clinic administration resulted in similar continuation rates and similar DMPA serum levels. Self-administration of sc DMPA is feasible and may be an attractive alternative for many women.

Implications: Self-administration of sc DMPA is a feasible and attractive option for many women. Benefits include increased control over contraceptive measures and less time spent on contracepting behaviors. Globally, self-administration has the potential to revolutionize contraceptive uptake by increasing the number of women with access to DMPA.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01019369.

Keywords: Contraception; Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate; Injectable; Self-administration.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial Disclosures: Carolyn Westhoff is a consultant to Merck, Agile, and Bayer. The other authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Flowchart of participants
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of MPA Levels in SC Continuers at 12 Months
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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