Preventing repeat teen pregnancy: postpartum depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, oral contraceptive pills, or the patch?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the repeat teen pregnancy rates, within one year of delivery, among adolescents who choose the contraceptive patch (Ortho Evra) versus oral contraceptive pills (OCP) versus Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo Provera, DMPA) for postpartum contraception.

DESIGN: Observational, prospective cohort study. Comparison groups are postpartum teens, who self-select the contraceptive patch (n = 55) versus DMPA (n = 142) versus OCPs (n = 55) immediately postpartum.

SETTING: Medical University of South Carolina, a tertiary medical center.

PARTICIPANTS: Postpartum teens, 11-19 years old; 72% were African American, and 96% qualified for Medicaid insurance.

INTERVENTIONS: A structured telephone interview was performed every 3 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was a repeat pregnancy within 12 months of the index delivery. Secondary outcome variables were contraceptive continuation rates, reasons for discontinuation, side effects and condom usage.

RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up, repeat pregnancy rates were 14.2%, 29.7%, and 31.8% among DMPA, OCP, and patch users respectively (P = 0.02). DMPA users were significantly more likely to be using any form of hormonal contraception 1 year postpartum than patch or OCP users. Condom use was similarly low among all cohorts.

CONCLUSION: Adolescents who choose DMPA for postpartum contraception are significantly less likely to become pregnant within 1 year of delivery, as compared to teens who choose OCPs or the patch.