The comparison between bleeding pattern, body weight, and blood pressure variations during the use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and cyclofem

The most common reasons for discontinuation of Depot Medroxy Progesterone Acetate (DMPA) contraceptive method are irregular bleeding and increased body weight. To reduce these complications, the combined injectable contraceptive drug, cyclofem, is offered as an alternative while its effects on the reduction of these complications are not quite clear. Thus this study was done to compare the effects of cyclofem and DMPA on the pattern of bleeding, body weight, and blood pressure variations. In a cross-sectional study, 600 healthy women using DMPA and cyclofem) 300 people in each group (were selected through purposeful sampling and evaluated in 3 time intervals: 3, 6 and 9-12 months after primary injection. Data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed by Chi-square, ANOVA, and Mann-Whitney tests using SPSS software. Spotting and amenorrhea were seen with higher incidence in DMPA users. There was a significant difference between DMPA and cyclofem users in spotting at the end of months 3, 6, and 9-12 after the first injection (p<0.05). Also, there was a significant difference between the two groups in amenorrhea during the three intervals (p<0.05). There was not a significant difference between the two groups in terms of weight variations (p>0.05), but there was a significant difference between the two groups in diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05). Considering the lower incidence of amenorrhea and spotting in cyclofem users, encouraging eligible clients to use the cyclofem contraceptive method is recommended. Also these users are recommended to carefully control their body weight and blood pressure.