BACKGROUND

Extending contraceptive implant duration of use increases accessibility by maximizing the lifetime of devices.

OBJECTIVE

To review the contraceptive efficacy during extended use of progestin implants.

METHODS

PubMed and EMBASE were searched for articles in any language, 1996-2017, utilizing terms for devices and contraceptive efficacy.

METHODS

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and case-control studies were included; abstracts, posters, and presentations were excluded. Studies evaluating Norplant and implants currently in pre-marketing trials were excluded.

METHODS

Titles and abstracts of articles were reviewed; those that met inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent full text review and data abstraction.

RESULTS

The search identified 2951 articles; six met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Five studies evaluated the etonogestrel implant (Implanon), and one the levonorgestrel implant (Jadelle). One RCT randomized to method, not duration; the remaining studies were prospective cohort studies. Three studies analyzed efficacy among women beyond currently approved duration separately. All studies were of poor to fair quality by United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPTF) grading. Limitations include lack of generalizability and control of important confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies provide limited data for extended duration of contraceptive implants.