TY - JOUR
T1 - Preliminary side effect profile, safety, and tolerability of hormonal contraception among women receiving opioid-agonist therapy
AU - Melbostad, Heidi S.
AU - Wachtel, Deborah S.
AU - Lipke, Kerstin A.
AU - Badger, Gary J.
AU - Matusiewicz, Alexis K.
AU - Rey, Catalina N.
AU - MacAfee, Lauren K.
AU - Dougherty, Anne K.
AU - Heil, Sarah H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Objective(s): To characterize for the first time the side effect profile, safety, and tolerability of hormonal contraception among women receiving opioid-agonist therapy. Study Design: We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected from participants in a three-arm randomized controlled trial (N = 138) aimed at increasing effective contraceptive use among women receiving opioid-agonist therapy. Participants in the 2 intervention conditions (n = 90) had free access to hormonal contraception at each of the 14 visits scheduled during the 6-month intervention. Contraceptive use and side effects were recorded at each visit; participants could change methods or discontinue use at any time. Verbatim side effects were classified using Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) terminology. Results: Of 67 participants reporting hormonal contraceptive use, 29 (43%) initiated implants, 14 (21%) intrauterine devices, 13 (19%) combined pills, 11 (16%) progestin-only pills, 10 (15%) injectables, 1 (2%) ring, and 1 (2%) patch; the average (±standard deviation) duration of use was 129 ± 55, 129 ± 60, 108 ± 62, 102 ± 61, 111 ± 31, 145, and 18 days, respectively. A total of 321 side effects were reported by 55 (82%) participants. Fifty (75%) participants reported menstrual cycle changes/uterine bleeding, followed by headaches (16, 24%), weight gain (15, 22%), and abdominal pain or nausea/vomiting (11, 16%). No serious side effects were reported. Twelve participants (18%) changed methods and 13 (19%) discontinued all hormonal contraceptive use. Conclusion(s): The hormonal contraceptive side effects reported by this small group of women receiving opioid-agonist therapy appear consistent with those reported by the general population, was generally well-tolerated, and did not raise safety concerns. Implications: These results provide important preliminary evidence that hormonal contraceptive use produces a familiar side effect profile and is well-tolerated by women receiving opioid-agonist therapy, although studies with larger samples followed over longer periods of time with appropriate comparison conditions are needed to fully assess tolerability and safety.
AB - Objective(s): To characterize for the first time the side effect profile, safety, and tolerability of hormonal contraception among women receiving opioid-agonist therapy. Study Design: We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected from participants in a three-arm randomized controlled trial (N = 138) aimed at increasing effective contraceptive use among women receiving opioid-agonist therapy. Participants in the 2 intervention conditions (n = 90) had free access to hormonal contraception at each of the 14 visits scheduled during the 6-month intervention. Contraceptive use and side effects were recorded at each visit; participants could change methods or discontinue use at any time. Verbatim side effects were classified using Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) terminology. Results: Of 67 participants reporting hormonal contraceptive use, 29 (43%) initiated implants, 14 (21%) intrauterine devices, 13 (19%) combined pills, 11 (16%) progestin-only pills, 10 (15%) injectables, 1 (2%) ring, and 1 (2%) patch; the average (±standard deviation) duration of use was 129 ± 55, 129 ± 60, 108 ± 62, 102 ± 61, 111 ± 31, 145, and 18 days, respectively. A total of 321 side effects were reported by 55 (82%) participants. Fifty (75%) participants reported menstrual cycle changes/uterine bleeding, followed by headaches (16, 24%), weight gain (15, 22%), and abdominal pain or nausea/vomiting (11, 16%). No serious side effects were reported. Twelve participants (18%) changed methods and 13 (19%) discontinued all hormonal contraceptive use. Conclusion(s): The hormonal contraceptive side effects reported by this small group of women receiving opioid-agonist therapy appear consistent with those reported by the general population, was generally well-tolerated, and did not raise safety concerns. Implications: These results provide important preliminary evidence that hormonal contraceptive use produces a familiar side effect profile and is well-tolerated by women receiving opioid-agonist therapy, although studies with larger samples followed over longer periods of time with appropriate comparison conditions are needed to fully assess tolerability and safety.
KW - Hormonal contraception
KW - Hormonal contraceptive use
KW - Opioid use disorder
KW - Opioid-agonist therapy
KW - Safety
KW - Side effects
KW - Tolerability
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U2 - 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.02.013
DO - 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.02.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 35283082
AN - SCOPUS:85127475931
SN - 0010-7824
VL - 110
SP - 16
EP - 20
JO - Contraception
JF - Contraception
ER -