Single‐visit long‐acting reversible contraception provision and pregnancy rates within 3 months

Abstract

Objectives To assess the occurrence of pregnancy in a cohort of women who received a copper intrauterine device (IUD), hormonal IUDs or an etonogestrel (ENG) contraceptive implant at a single‐visit practice. Methods Prospective study conducted at the University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. We obtained data from four ongoing studies including both the date of the device placement, the first day of the last menstrual period, and the occurrence of pregnancy up to 3 months after device placement. Results We included 2479 device placements (413 TCu380A IUDs, 1476 hormonal IUD and 590 ENG implants). Almost half of the device placements (1113/2479; 44.9%) were performed within the first 5 days of the menstrual cycle. We observed three pregnancies: one in an ENG implant user who received the implant within days 1–5 of the menstrual cycle; one in a woman who received a hormonal IUD during days 6–10 of the menstrual cycle; and one in a copper IUD user with placement during days 21–25 of menstrual cycle. Conclusions Single‐visit long‐acting reversible contraception placements are a good strategy with overall very low pregnancy rates. This strategy has a potential to reduce unintended pregnancies and to reduce costs and barriers to both women and the healthcare system.