Purpose:The objective of the current study was to evaluate the correlation between obesity and the use of depo-medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) in regards to weight gain and changes in bleeding patterns.
Materials and Methods:A retrospective chart review of women receiving 150mg DMPA via intramuscular injection at inpatient and outpatient clinics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) between June 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016 was conducted. Body mass indices (BMI) were assessed at baseline and at the time of final injection. Race, medical history, age at first DMPA injection, number and timing of injections, reported side effects, indication for DMPA use, and reason for discontinuation, if applicable were collected.Results: Of the 240 patients included in the study, 3.4% were underweight, 30.8% were normal weight, 23.3% were overweight, 15% were Class I obese, 9.6% were Class II obese, and 17.9% were Class III obese. 87.9% of the population were African American. Contraception was the most common indication for use. Women gained (2.40kg; 95% CI 1.34 -3.45) while they were on DMPA (p<0.01), which after adjusting for confounding variables was associated with age at initial injection (beta coefficient = −0.13; p=0.01). Amenorrhea was the most commonly reported change in bleeding pattern among these women.
Conclusion:Women who started DMPA at an earlier age gained the most weight over time, independent of initial BMI. Similar rates of amenorrhea were found among all BMI categories.