(153) Evaluation of the Adverse Effects of Family Planning Implants in Nigerian Women in Lagos State

Background: Implants are modern method of family planning and it is gaining popularity among women, given their convenience and long duration. However, there is paucity of data on their adverse effects in Nigeria

Objectives: The adverse effects of family planning implants among women in Lagos State, Southwestern Nigeria, were evaluated

Methods: A 5-year (2019-2023) retrospective data about family planning implants were collected from four Secondary Hospitals in Lagos State. A total of four hundred and four female participants, who had taken either Implanon or Jadelle implant contraceptives, were used for the study. Data obtained included demographics, adverse effects and their consequence on the continuation or discontinuation of the implants

Results: Implant contraceptive (9003, 56.3 %) was the most commonly used among all family planning methods. Implanon implant (223, 55.2 %) was more commonly used than Jadelle implant (181, 44.8 %). Spotting (Implanon 144, 64.6 %; Jadelle 133, 73.5 %) was the most commonly reported adverse event followed by irregular menstruation (Implanon 32, 14.3 %; Jadelle 23, 12.7 %), prolonged menstrual bleeding (Implanon 29, 19.1 %; Jadelle 18, 9.9 %), abdominal pain (Implanon 17, 13.6 %; Jadelle 13, 6.7 %) and headache (Implanon 15, 6.7 %; Jadelle 22, 12.2 %). Despite the adverse effects, most (273, 68 %) of the users did not discontinue the implants. However, most of those who discontinued the implants did so after usage of 4-6 months (Implanon 30; Jadelle 22). Although not significant (p = 0.718), discontinuation of the implants was more frequent among the participants who received implanon (74, 33.2 %) compared to those who received Jadelle. Prolonged menstrual bleeding, spotting, weight gain and high blood pressure were risk factors for discontinuation of the implants (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Family planning implants were the most common method of contraception and were well tolerated in most of the patients. However, they were associated with prolonged menstrual bleeding, spotting, headache, weight gain and high blood pressure which were risk factors for its discontinuation. Adverse effects were more common with Implanon implant compared to Jadelle.