THE USE OF NOMEGESTROL ACETATE SUBDERMAL CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANT, UNIPLANT, DURING LACTATION

Uniplant is a single contraceptive implant intended for one year use. It contains the progestogen nomegestrol acetate. The clinical performa nce and the effect of its use during the first postpartum year on brea stfeeding performance and growth and health of the infants were studie d and compared to the findings in a parallel group who used an in trau terine contraceptive device (IUD) in a prospective, non-randomized stu dy. This was carried out in Assiut, Egypt. Two-hundred-forty fully bre astfeeding mothers asking for initiation of contraception early postpa rtum were assigned according to their choices into either nomegestrol subdermal contraceptive implant (Uniplant) (120 women) or intrauterine contraceptive device (CuT 380A) (120 women). The mother and infant pa irs were followed up at monthly intervals during the first three month s and at two-month intervals thereafter up until the first birthday of the baby. No pregnancy occurred in the two groups. Amenorrhea was sig nificantly more prolonged in the Uniplant group than in the IUD group. There were no significant differences in net continuation rates betwe en the two groups (88.3 versus 92.4 per 100 women, respectively). Ther e were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of breastfeeding episodes, time of weaning, and the cumulative rates of full and partial breastfeeding. There were no significant differenc es between the two groups in infant weight, weight gain per day, or in infant linear growth. There were no significant differences in the in cidence of important health problems affecting the infants oi the two groups. However, there were seven infant deaths, six of them were in t he Uniplant group. Uniplant subdermal contraceptive implants can be of fered as a new contraceptive option suitable for nursing mothers. (C) 1996 by H. Abdel-Aleem et al.