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Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize the bleeding pattern, the outcome of pregnancies
and the levonorgestrel plasma levels associated with method failures in NORPLANTR implants users. Nineteen pregnancies are reported in 458 woman and 21,589 woman-months
observed during the first eight years of NORPLANTR use. Pregnancy rates increased slightly during the first six years of use,attaining
a Pearl Index above three thereafter.
All women who became pregnant had experienced a regular bleeding pattern in the six
months preceding conception. Levonorgestrel plasma levels observed at different intervals
before conception and during the conceptional cycle were similar to those observed
in non-pregnant women at comparable intervals after NORPLANTR insertion.
The nineteen pregnancies ended in thirteen term deliveries, one premature delivery,
three abortions and two ectopic pregnancies. No abnormalities were found in the infants.
The two ectopic pregnancies are the only ones reported for NORPLANTR users in The Population Council studies. The overall incidence is less than 0.8 per
1000 woman-years.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 28,
1986
Received:
April 24,
1986
Identification
Copyright
© 1986 Published by Elsevier Inc.
