One-year continuation of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant in women with postabortion or interval placement

BackgroundOur study investigated whether women with etonogestrel implant placement in the immediate postabortion period have similar continuation rates to women with interval placement.Study DesignThis is a prospective cohort study of women at Boston Medical Center. We compared 1-year continuation rates in women who had immediate postabortion placement to interval placement using Cox proportional hazard models.ResultsOne hundred five women were enrolled, 53 in the abortion and 52 in the interval group. There were two losses to follow-up leaving 103 women for analysis. The overall 1-year continuation rate was 74.8%, with 68.6% postabortion continuation and 80.8% interval continuation. The risk of discontinuation in women with postabortion placement was higher but not statistically different than women with interval placement (unadjusted hazard ratio: 1.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.81–3.96).ConclusionOverall etonogestrel implant continuation was acceptable with similar rates for postabortion and interval placement. For women who want a contraceptive implant after an abortion, immediate placement should be available.