CONTENTS
Published with this issue: Published by the Population Information Program, Center for Communication Programs, The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 111 Market Place, Suite 310, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4012, USA
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ffectiveness and Reversibility Injectable contraceptives combine almost complete effectiveness with reliable reversibility. Most clinical trials report less than 1 pregnancy per 100 women in the first year of use (39, 41, 271, 277, 336, 338, 340, 342). Thus injectables are comparable in effectiveness to Norplant® implants, the TCu-380A IUD, and voluntary sterilization. Women who have used DMPA or NET EN and stop to have a baby may have to wait several months longer on average for pregnancy than former IUD or OC users. Thus rumors persist that some women who use injectables become sterile. In fact, after two years pregnancy rates among former DMPA, IUD, and OC users are the same. Providers may need to reassure clients and the public that injectables do not cause infertility but to note that women should expect a wait of some months after stopping injectables to become pregnant. Service policies based on a fear of infertility—in particular, age and parity restrictions—can be dropped (see Chapter 9.4 Procedural Guidelines). |