COMMON COMPLICATIONS OF DEPO-MEDROXY PROGESTERONE ACETATE (DMPA) INJECTION IN WOMEN REFERRING TO HEALTH AND TREATMENT CLINICS OF KERMANSHAH UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES IN 1382(2003)

According to the national policies of health and population, depo- medroxy progestrone acetate (DMPA) injection is provided for women for family planning purposes. This study was conducted on 374 women using this Contra caption method in Kermanshah; the subjects had used it at least for two six-month periods and had files in health centers. Questionnaires were utilized to collect relevant data on menstrual disorders, nervousness, weight gain, headache, vertigo and so on. The findings revealed that the most common complications were menstrual disorders (86.1%), nervousness being the second most common (25.4%); weight gain was another complication common to the subjects (22.2%). The most Common complication among menstrual disorders were absolute amenorrhea (53.2%) and spotting (26.7%). In general, the most common complications of DMPA injection involved menstrual disorders, nervousness, weight gain and the most common disorder among the former. were absolute amenorrhea and spotting, which were the main reason to abandon the method by the subjects. Therefore it is suggested that this method be utilized with counseling and proper selection of the clients and appropriate training about its complications.