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Observational Study
. 2020 Oct;102(4):251-253.
doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2020.06.004. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Progestin-only pill use over 6 months postpartum

Suji Uhm  1 , Nuria Garcia-Ruiz  2 , Mitchell D Creinin  2 , Aubrey Blanton  2 , Melissa J Chen  2
Affiliations
Observational Study

Progestin-only pill use over 6 months postpartum

Suji Uhm et al. Contraception. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine progestin-only pill (POP) use at 3 and 6 months postpartum among women who chose POPs at the postpartum visit.

Study design: Secondary data analysis of a prospective observational study with telephone interviews at 3 and 6 months postpartum to assess contraceptive use.

Results: Of 440 women who attended the postpartum visit, 92 (20.9%) chose POPs. Current POP use was 44/84 (52.4%) at 3 months, 33/76 (43.4%) at 6 months, and 32/76 (42.1%) at both 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments.

Conclusion: About half of women who plan POP use at the postpartum visit are not using this method at 3 months after delivery.

Implications: About half of women with a prescription for progestin-only pills will be not using this method at 3 months postpartum; further understanding of continued sexual activity and breastfeeding may clarify pregnancy risk for those not reporting modern contraception use during the postpartum period.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Hormonal contraception; Postpartum contraception; Progestin-only pills.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Contraceptive method reported at 3 and 6 months after delivery among women choosing progestin-only pills at the postpartum visit POP=progestin-only pill; IUD= intrauterine device; COC=combined oral contraceptive pill; *Other includes withdrawal (n=1) and natural family planning (n=1) at 3-months follow-up and spermicide (n=1) at 6-months follow-up
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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