Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access

Abstract

How Contraception Changes in Recurrent Unintended Pregnancy

Ana Gonçalves Andrade, Sara Rocha, Catarina Marques, Maria José Alves and Ana Campos

Objective: To evaluate differences in the follow-up of recurrent unintended pregnancy (UP) between a former and a posterior episode.

Methods: Retrospective study of women with recurrent UP comparing contraception and methods of abortion between the first and second episode.

Results: Ninety-one women fulfilled the study criteria. The prevalence of UP was 13.7%. The mean time between abortions was 21 months (2-57). Before the first episode, most women were not using any contraceptive method (39.3%), while before the second episode most were using oral contraception (OC) (48.8%). In both groups, OC was the most frequent method chosen after the abortion, with a higher prevalence after the first episode (82.1% vs 42.1%) (p=0.001); the number of subcutaneous implants inserted was higher after the second abortion (10.2% vs 39.6%) as well as intrauterine devices (1.4% vs 9.8%) (p=0.001). While after the first abortion no women chose sterilization, after the second eight women had their tube ligated (p=0.039). In both episodes most women started a new contraceptive method after the abortion (77%; 75%). In the first UP only 9.1% (n=26) of the abortions were surgical while in the second episode, surgical abortions had a higher prevalence (n=99; 34.7%) (p=0.001).

Conclusions: Past history of abortion changes the clinical management of UP in what concerns abortion methods and contraceptive choice.