ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the menstrual patterns and side effects of Jadelle use in Thai women aged between 20 and 45 years. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study. SETTING: Family Planning Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective clinical trial study was conducted at the Family Planning Unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in June 2005. The study duration was 6 months. The data was obtained from each patient S medical record. The descriptive statistics was frequency, percentage, mean, SD and 95% Confidence Interval (CI). The statistical analyses were performed by using the paired t test for comparison of means before and after 6 months of Jadelle used. RESULTS: A total of 59 women were recruited in a 6-month clinical study. Their mean age was 29.07years. Most acceptors had completed secondary school. No accidental pregnancy occurred throughout the 6 months of use in the present study. The most common menstrual pattern was amenorrhea followed by irregular bleeding. The major side effect was irregular bleeding. There was no significant change in body weight, body mass index, and systolic-diastolic blood pressure during the 6 months follow up period. The common non menstrual adverse effects were headache, acne, alopecia. DISCUSSION: The most common menstrual patterns found in the present study were amenorrhea and irregular bleeding followed by a regular cycle. The common nonmenstrual adverse effects were headache, acne, and alopecia. There were no pregnancies in the 6-month follow-up period. Jadelle was an effective implant contraceptive method with an acceptable bleeding pattern. Over all acceptability was good. This should become another choice of contraception for Thai women.