MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE (DEPO-PROVERA) USE IN ADOLESCENTS - UTERINE BLEEDING AND BLOOD-PRESSURE PATTERNS, PATIENT SATISFACTION, AND CONTINUATION RATES

Study Objective: This study examined the utilization of medroxyprogest erone acetate (Depo-Provera) in adolescent patients to determine selec ted side effects, degree of satisfaction, and continuation rates. Desi gn: The design was a retrospective chart review of 50 adolescent patie nts totaling 384 clinic visits and accumulating 1007 woman-months of e xperience on Depo-Provera. Setting: The Teenage Clinic at Children's H ospital, Columbus, Ohio, was the setting for this study. Participants: The mean age was 15.6 (+/-2.5); racial distribution was 52% African-A merican and 48% white. The mean number of visits per patient was 7.4 ( +/-7.9), ranging from 2 to 39 visits. Interventions: Each patient was given Depo-Provera for either a pre-existing medical indication or for contraception. Main Outcome Measures: Uterine bleeding patterns, bloo d pressure readings, patient satisfaction, and continuation rates. Res ults: A strong correlation was found between length of time on Depo-Pr overa and amenorrhea and spotting (p < 0.01). No new recordings of hyp ertension occurred. The majority of patients expressed overall satisfa ction with Depo-Provera, and most found amenorrhea to be a positive as pect of the drug. Continuation rates exceeded 50% after 2 years and ge nerally fell within ranges reported for adult women. No pregnancies we re recorded during the course of the study. Conclusions: This study in dicates that Depo-Provera can be used in an adolescent population with a high degree of acceptability and does not increase patient risk for hypertension. The likelihood of amenorrhea increases greatly with dur ation of treatment and does not seem to deter the continuation of its use.