Bleeding pattern, outcome of accidental pregnancies and levonorgestrel plasma levels associated with method failure in NORPLANTR implants users

The aim of this study was to characterize the bleeding pattern, the outcome of pregnancies and the levonorgestrel plasma levels associated with method failures in NORPLANT^R implants users. Nineteen pregnancies are reported in 458 woman and 21,589 woman-months observed during the first eight years of NORPLANT^R use. Pregnancy rates increased slightly during the first six years of use,attaining a Pearl Index above three thereafter. All women who became pregnant had experienced a regular bleeding pattern in the six months preceding conception. Levonorgestrel plasma levels observed at different intervals before conception and during the conceptional cycle were similar to those observed in non-pregnant women at comparable intervals after NORPLANT^R insertion. The nineteen pregnancies ended in thirteen term deliveries, one premature delivery, three abortions and two ectopic pregnancies. No abnormalities were found in the infants. The two ectopic pregnancies are the only ones reported for NORPLANT^R users in The Population Council studies. The overall incidence is less than 0.8 per 1000 woman-years.