Effect of contraception provided at termination of pregnancy and incidence of subsequent termination of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of subsequent termination of pregnancy (TOP) within a 2-year period in relation to the method of contraception provided to women following the index TOP.

DESIGN

Case note review.

SETTING

NHS hospital TOP service, Edinburgh, UK.

POPULATION

Nine hundred and eighty-six women requesting a TOP in 2008.

METHODS

Case notes were reviewed to determine the contraception provided at index TOP and whether women had subsequent TOP at the same hospital within 2 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence of subsequent TOP within 2 years amongst women receiving different contraceptive methods.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-one women (12.3%) of the 986 who attended the clinic requesting a TOP returned requesting another TOP in the subsequent 2 years. Both intrauterine contraception and the progestogen-only implant were associated with the lowest incidence of subsequent TOP. Using the combined oral contraceptive pill as the reference method, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of a further TOP within 2 years with intrauterine contraception and the implant were OR = 0.05 (95% CI, 0.01-0.41; P < 0.001) and OR =0.06 (95% CI, 0.01-0.23; P < 0.001), respectively. Women choosing the implant were significantly younger than those choosing the intrauterine method (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Women undergoing a TOP who wish to avoid another unintended pregnancy should consider immediate initiation of either intrauterine contraception or the progestogen-only implant. Service providers should be trained and supported to provide these methods to women at the time of TOP.