Early provision of intrauterine contraception as part of abortion care-5-year results of a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Study question: Can the incidence of subsequent termination of pregnancy (TOP) be reduced by providing intrauterine contraception as part of the abortion service?

Summary answer: Provision of an intrauterine device (IUD) as part of TOP services reduced the need for subsequent TOP but the effect was limited to the first 3 years of the 5-year follow-up.

What is known already: An IUD is highly effective in preventing subsequent TOP. Prompt initiation of IUD use leads to a higher usage rate during follow-up, as compliance with post-TOP IUD insertion visits is low.

Study design, size, duration: The objective of this randomised controlled trial was to assess the effect of early comprehensive provision of intrauterine contraception after TOP, with primary outcome being the incidence of subsequent TOP during the 5 years of follow-up after the index abortion. This study was conducted at a tertiary care centre between 18 October 2010 and 21 January 2013. Altogether, 748 women undergoing a first trimester TOP were recruited and randomised into two groups. The intervention group (n = 375) was provided with an IUD during surgical TOP or 1-4 weeks following medical TOP at the hospital providing the abortion care. Women in the control group (n = 373) were advised to contact primary health care for follow-up and IUD insertion. Subsequent TOPs during the 5-year follow-up were identified from the Finnish Register on induced abortions.

Participants/materials, setting, methods: The inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, duration of gestation ≤12 weeks, residence in Helsinki and accepting intrauterine contraception. Women with contraindications to IUD were excluded.

Main results and the role of chance: The overall numbers of subsequent TOPs were 50 in the intervention and 72 in the control group (26.7 versus 38.6/1000 years of follow-up, P = 0.027), and those of requested TOPs, including TOPs and early pregnancy failures, were 58 and 76, respectively (30.9 versus 40.8/1000, P = 0.080). Altogether 40 (10.7%) women in the intervention and 63 (16.9%) in the control group underwent one or several subsequent TOPs (hazard ratio 1.67 [95% CI 1.13 to 2.49], P = 0.011). The number of TOPs was reduced by the intervention during years 0-3 (22.2 versus 46.5/1000, P = 0.035), but not during years 4-5 (33.3 versus 26.8/1000, P = 0.631).

Limitations, reasons for caution: Both medical and surgical TOP were used. This may be seen as a limitation, but it also reflects the contemporary practice of abortion care. The immediate post-TOP care was provided by two different organizations, allowing us to compare two different ways of contraceptive service provision following TOP.

Wider implications of the findings: Providing TOP and IUD insertion comprehensively in the same heath care unit leads to significantly higher rates of attendance, IUD use and a significantly lower risk of subsequent TOP.

Study funding/competing interest(s): This study was supported by Helsinki University Central Hospital Research funds and by research grants provided by the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation and Finska Läkaresällskapet. E.P. has received a personal research grant from the Finnish Medical Society. The City of Helsinki supported the study by providing the IUDs. The funding organisations had no role in planning or execution of the study, or in analysing the study results.

Trial registration number: The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01223521).

Trial registration date: 18 October 2010.

Date of first patient’s enrolment: 18 October 2010.

Keywords: abortion; intrauterine contraception; intrauterine device; subsequent termination of pregnancy; termination of pregnancy.