Bleeding patterns of adolescents using a combination contraceptive injection for 1 year

PurposeThis prospective observational study evaluated the bleeding patterns of adolescents receiving a monthly injectable contraceptive containing norethisterone enanthate 50 mg plus estradiol valerate 5 mg.Materials and MethodsThe study enrolled 73 volunteers aged between 14 and 19 years; of these patients, 38 (52%) recorded their menstrual cycles during 1 year.ResultsAfter 1 year of using the contraceptive, most of the 38 women (71.1%) had adequate menstrual patterns (two to four bleeding episodes; none lasting 10 days or longer; with a range of bleeding-free intervals not exceeding 17 days), 23.7% reported prolonged bleeding episodes, 2.6% had irregular bleeding and 2.6% had amenorrhea. Only 1 of the 38 teenagers is known to have discontinued the method due to bleeding. Among these 38 adolescents, dissatisfaction with bleeding patterns was not a frequent reason given for discontinuation of the monthly injectable contraceptive.