Intrauterine devices at six months: does patient age matter? Results from an urban family medicine federally qualified health center (FQHC) network

Adolescent and young adult long-acting reversible contraception post-insertion visit attendance before and after COVID-19

OBJECTIVES

Widespread use of telemedicine for contraceptive care, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), was adopted in the United States in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the rapid implementation of these services, little is known about the use of telemedicine for adolescent and young adult (AYA) contraceptive care. This study examined the routine use of telemedicine for LARC post-insertion care by comparing visit attendance between AYAs receiving LARC before and after the COVID-19 pandemic onset.

METHODS

This analysis included LARC insertions 3/1/19-11/30/19 (pre-pandemic onset cohort) and 4/1/20-12/31/20 (post-pandemic onset cohort) from three Adolescent Medicine subspecialty clinics in the United States. De-identified data were collected via review of the electronic health record. Descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, and t-tests described and compared groups. Adjusted logistic regression models examined factors associated with attending a post-insertion visit and attending this visit via telemedicine.

RESULTS

This analysis included 525 LARC insertions (279 pre- and 246 post-pandemic onset). The proportion of AYAs attending a post-insertion visit increased after the COVID-19 pandemic onset (pre 30 % vs. post 46 %; p≤0.001). Adjusted models revealed that the post-pandemic onset cohort was nearly twice as likely to attend a post-insertion visit as the pre-pandemic onset cohort (OR=1.90; 95 % CI=1.68-2.15). Of those attending this visit in the post-pandemic onset cohort (n=112), 42 % utilized telemedicine.

CONCLUSIONS

AYAs were more likely to attend post-insertion visits after the COVID-19 pandemic onset than before. Telemedicine may have influenced this change in visit attendance.

Expulsion and continuation rates of the 52 mg levonorgestrel intrauterine system in adolescents and adult women

OBJECTIVE

To compare the continuation rates, expulsion, and other reasons for discontinuation of the hormonal intrauterine device with 52 mg of levonorgestrel (52 mg LNG-IUD) in adolescents and adult women.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included 393 women in whom we placed a 52 mg LNG-IUD and followed up to 5 years. We created two retrospective cohorts, one with 131 adolescents (aged between 12 and 19 years) and the other with 262 women aged ≥20 years. Each adolescent was paired with two adult women who had the same parity and who had a 52 mg LNG-IUD inserted on the same day. We used the Mann-Whitney test to compare numerical variables in both groups, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test to compare the continuation, expulsion and other reasons for IUD discontinuation of the two groups.

RESULTS

Age of the adolescents and adult women were mean ± SD 18.1 (±1.1) and 31 (±6.8) years, respectively (p = 0.015). Continuation rates by the fifth year of use were 55.6/100 women-years (W-Y) and 70.3/100 W-Y among adolescents and adult women (p = 0.106); and expulsion rates were 8.4/100 and 6.0/100 W-Y, respectively (p = 0.463). Adolescents had a lower continuation rate during 3 to 5 years of follow-up (p = 0.011) and a high rate of removals due to bleeding/pain (18.5 ± 5.7/100 W-Y vs 6.4/100 ± 2.1 W-Y, p = 0.039).

CONCLUSION

Adolescents who used the 52 mg LNG-IUD showed a lower continuation rate 3-5 years after device placement than adult women. The expulsion rates were similar in both groups.

Telemedicine for Adolescent and Young Adult Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Follow-Up Care amidst a Global Pandemic

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To describe adolescent and young adult (AYA) long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) follow-up care via telemedicine in the year following the COVID-19 pandemic onset DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study SETTING: Three academic adolescent medicine clinics in the United States PARTICIPANTS: AYAs using LARC INTERVENTIONS: None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were patient characteristics, visit information (frequency, timing, and modality), patient-reported symptoms, and outcomes for those presenting for LARC follow-up care between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. χ² tests and t tests were used to compare groups. Adjusted logistic regression models using general estimating equations were applied to assess factors associated with telemedicine visits and to examine visit outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 319 AYAs (ages 13.6-25.7 years), 40.1% attended at least one LARC telemedicine visit. Patients attending any telemedicine encounter vs only in-person visits had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Of the 426 follow-up visits, 270 (63.4%) were conducted in person and 156 (36.6%) were performed via telemedicine. Most visits (62.7%) occurred within 12 months of device insertion. Reports of bothersome uterine bleeding beyond patient expectations (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 0.80-1.96), any symptom (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 0.94-2.10), or 2 or more symptoms (OR = 1.22; 95% CI, 0.67-2.22) at follow-up was not associated, positively or negatively, with mode of follow-up. Management of bleeding (OR = 1.27; 95% CI, 0.56-2.89), management of acne (P = .46), and need for rapid follow-up (P = .33) were similar between follow-up modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient demographic/clinical characteristics and visit outcomes were similar between telemedicine and in-person LARC follow-up. Telemedicine could play an important role in AYA LARC care.

Continuation of Copper T in Immediate Postplacental, Immediate Postabortal and Interval Period of Insertion

AIM

Copper containing IUCDs are one of most effective mode of contraception for birth spacing. We conducted this prospective observational study to suggest a possible better period of insertion of IUCDs with cost-saving benefits.

METHODS

All married women in the reproductive age group desirous of Copper-T 375 IUD insertion in either immediate postplacental (PP), immediate postabortal (PA) or interval (INT) period were recruited. The women were asked to return for scheduled follow-up visits at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. They were advised to visit family planning clinic any time if they experienced pelvic pain, discharge per vaginum, unusual bleeding or missed periods. At each visit, women were interviewed for any side effects they have experienced and were asked to elaborate. Pelvic pain was assessed from visual analogue scale. Continuation rate was measured at the end of one year.

RESULTS

Women in INT group (90.14%) had the highest continuation rate followed by PP (83.18%) and PA (80%) groups. Women in PP (AOR = 3.37, 95% CI 1.17-9.72) and PA (AOR = 4.53, 95% CI 1.33-14.04) groups had higher odds of discontinuation compared to INT group after adjusting for age, parity, working and education status. There was a significant difference between the groups when cumulative expulsion was considered (p = 0.045), but none when cumulative removal (p = 0.107) was taken into account.

CONCLUSION

The continuation rate remained high in women who had insertion in the interval period compared to immediate postplacental and postabortal periods.

Attendance of an Initial Follow-up Visit after Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Insertion and Method Continuation Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Retrospective Study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess attendance of an initial follow-up visit after long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) insertion and whether follow-up was associated with a higher likelihood of method continuation in adolescents and young adults (AYAs).

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review including patients receiving LARC (etonogestrel 68 mg implant, levonorgestrel 52 mg intrauterine device, or copper intrauterine device) between January 1, 2014, and August 1, 2017.

SETTING

An urban adolescent center providing primary care and reproductive health services.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 331 patients 13-28 years of age.

INTERVENTIONS

Attendance of a follow-up visit 4-8 weeks after LARC insertion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Follow-up was defined as visits addressing LARC method or routine physical examinations in the adolescent center or affiliated school-based health clinics. Continuation and discontinuation were defined as documented presence or removal, respectively, of device at various time points. Descriptive analyses, χ² test, Fisher exact test, t test, and survival analysis were used.

RESULTS

Approximately one-third (29.3%) of the patients attended a follow-up visit. Follow-up was associated with a higher likelihood of LARC removal in the first year (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33-3.32). At 500 days post-insertion and beyond, there was no difference in LARC continuation between AYAs who followed-up and those who did not (HR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.67-1.71).

CONCLUSION

Few AYAs attended an initial follow-up visit after LARC placement. These visits were associated with an increased likelihood of LARC removal in the first year; however, this association was not observed long term. More information is needed to determine how to approach follow-up this population.

Current evidence of contraceptive uptake, pregnancy and continuation rates in young women: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Half of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended, and the rate is even higher in women aged ≤25 years. We sought to identify which method of contraception was the most effective option to prevent unintended pregnancy in young women and adolescents.

METHODS

Systematic searches, without language restrictions, were carried out of the PubMed, Embase, Lilacs and Cochrane databases from inception to July 2020. Abstracts and full-text articles of observational studies and randomised controlled trials comparing the use of multiple methods of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and short-acting reversible contraception (SARC) in young women and adolescents were screened and reviewed. Risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were derived using a random-effects meta-analytical model. Meta-analyses provided pooled estimates for adverse events, continuation rates and efficacy of LARC methods in young women and adolescents. Nine of the 25 included studies compared LARC with SARC, and 16 compared LARC methods only.

RESULTS

At 12 months, young women had better adherence with LARC compared with SARC (n = 1606; RR 1.60; 95% CI 1.21, 2.12; I ² = 88%), which suggests a better unintended pregnancy prevention outcome for young women. However, more young women chose SARC (n = 2835; RR 0.37; 95% CI 0.17, 0.80; I ² = 99%). Pregnancy during LARC use was rare.

CONCLUSION

LARC methods are the most efficacious in preventing pregnancy, and women should be informed of this if pregnancy prevention is their priority. The evidence, however, is of low quality.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42017055452.

Copper IUD continuation, unwanted effects and cost consequences at 1 year in users aged under 30 - a secondary analysis of the EURAS-IUD study

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a secondary analysis of continuation, unwanted effects and cost consequences at 1 year in copper intrauterine device (IUD) users aged under 30 in the European Active Surveillance Study for Intrauterine Devices (EURAS-IUD study) based on IUD type.

METHODS

Descriptive and comparative analyses of copper IUD continuation, unwanted effects and estimated cost consequences at 1 year were performed in users aged under 30 based on IUD copper surface area, shape or design, width and arms' flexibility.

RESULTS

5796 copper IUD users were identified to have been aged under 30 at EURAS-IUD study recruitment and data for 5762 users (99.4%) was analysed. Higher IUD continuation, fewer unwanted effects and lower costs were observed with IUDs of the lowest copper content (<300mm²), horse-shoe frame design, widths 18 mm to <30mm and flexible IUD arms. Discontinuation, unwanted effects and costs were greater with frameless IUDs and framed, ≥30mm width IUDs with 380mm² of copper and copper bands on their rigid transverse IUD arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant differences in continuation, reported unwanted effects and estimated costs at 1 year between IUD types were observed in users aged under 30. Although further research is needed, clinicians should consider these findings when counselling and choosing IUD types for younger women.

Satisfaction With the Intrauterine Device Insertion Procedure Among Adolescent and Young Adult Women

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate satisfaction with intrauterine device (IUD) insertion procedures among adolescent and young adult women.

METHODS

This secondary analysis of data from a multisite, single-blind, sham-controlled randomized trial of women having a levonorgestrel 13.5-mg IUD inserted enrolled participants from March 2015 through July 2016 at three family planning clinics in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Eligible participants were 14-22 years of age, nulliparous, not pregnant, and English-speaking. Randomization was computer-generated allocation in block sizes of four to a 1% lidocaine paracervical or sham block. Only patients were blinded. Satisfaction was measured with three items that assessed overall satisfaction with the procedure, whether participants would recommend the IUD to a friend, and the perception that the IUD was worth the discomfort. Predictors included demographics, sexual and reproductive history, pain after IUD insertion, and treatment group.

RESULTS

Ninety-five women enrolled; 93 (97.9%) were included in the analysis. Forty-five (47.4%) were white, 34 (36.0%) were black, 62 (66.0%) were privately insured, and 75 (79.0%) had used contraception previously. Most (n=73 [76.8%]) reported high overall satisfaction with the procedure, 64 (67.4%) would recommend an IUD to a friend, and 79 (83.2%) perceived the IUD was worth the discomfort. The odds of reporting high overall satisfaction were lower among adolescents compared with young adults (odds ratio [OR] 0.07, 95% CI 0.008-0.68); those who never had a gynecologic examination compared with those who had (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.07-0.99); and decreased as pain score increased (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99). Higher pain scores were negatively correlated with the odds of recommending an IUD to a friend and perceiving the IUD was worth the discomfort.

CONCLUSION

Adolescent and young adult women report high levels of satisfaction after the IUD insertion procedure. Young age, lack of experience with gynecologic examinations, and high pain were inversely related to satisfaction.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02352714.

Practical Tips for Intrauterine Device Counseling, Insertion, and Pain Relief in Adolescents: An Update

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have endorsed intrauterine devices as first-line contraceptive choices for nulliparous and parous adolescents. Practical concerns about intrauterine devices might be barriers to use for teens and clinicians; this review is devoted to "practical tips" for clinicians, on the basis of an update of the available literature as well as the author's clinical experience. Counseling about contraceptive choices, preventive guidance about possible side effects, informed consent, and pain management are addressed to promote successful use of this long-acting reversible contraption option.

Provider and Health System Factors Associated with Usage of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception in Adolescents

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is recommended as first-line contraception for adolescents. Surveys of primary care providers suggest that physician and clinic factors might influence LARC counseling, but their effect on usage is unknown. Our objective was to explore provider and clinic characteristics associated with LARC usage in adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 5363 women ages 15-21 years receiving primary care within a large health system in Massachusetts in 2015. We used data abstracted from electronic medical records to characterize rates of LARC usage. We analyzed the association of provider (specialty, degree, gender, resident status, LARC credentialing) and clinic (Title X funding, onsite LARC provision, onsite obstetrician-gynecologist) factors with adolescents' LARC usage using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Overall, 3.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9-3.9) of adolescents were documented as currently using a LARC method. Older adolescents were significantly more likely to use a LARC method (adjusted odds ratio, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.62-3.58 for women ages 20-21 years compared with ages 15-17 years). Adolescents whose primary care provider was a resident were significantly more likely to use a LARC method (adjusted odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.02-2.68). Provider specialty, degree, gender, onsite LARC provision, and onsite obstetrician-gynecologist were not significantly associated with LARC usage in adolescents.

CONCLUSION

Being older and having a primary care provider early in their training increased the odds of LARC usage among adolescents in a large Massachusetts health system. Across primary care specialties, educating providers about the appropriate uses of LARC methods in nulliparous adolescents might facilitate LARC usage.

Lessons Learned Recruiting Minority Participants for Research in Urban Community Health Centers

To help understand and mitigate health disparities, it is important to conduct research with underserved and underrepresented minority populations under real world settings. There is a gap in the literature detailing real-time research staff experience, particularly in their own words, while conducting in-person patient recruitment in urban community health centers. This paper describes challenges faced at the clinic, staff, and patient levels, our lessons learned, and strategies implemented by research staff while recruiting predominantly low-income African-American women for an interviewer-administered survey study in four urban Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey. Using a series of immersion-crystallization cycles, fieldnotes and research reflections written by recruiters, along with notes from team meetings during the study, were qualitatively analyzed. Clinic level barriers included: physical layout of clinic, very low or high patient census, limited private space, and long wait times for patients. Staff level barriers included: unengaged staff, overburdened staff, and provider and staff turnover. Patient level barriers included: disinterested patients, patient mistrust and concerns over confidentiality, no-shows or lack of patient time, and language barrier. We describe strategies used to overcome these barriers and provide recommendations for in-person recruitment of underserved populations into research studies. To help mitigate health disparities, disseminating recruiters' experiences, challenges, and effective strategies used will allow other researchers to build upon these experience in order to increase recruitment success of underserved and underrepresented minority populations into research studies.

Survival analysis using primary care electronic health record data: A systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

An emerging body of research involves observational studies in which survival analysis is applied to data obtained from primary care electronic health records (EHRs). This systematic review of these studies examined the utility of using this approach.

METHOD

An electronic literature search of the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases was conducted. Search terms and exclusion criteria were chosen to select studies where survival analysis was applied to the data extracted wholly from EHRs used in primary care medical practice.

RESULTS

A total of 46 studies that met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review were examined. All were published within the past decade (2005-2014) with a majority ( n = 26, 57%) being published between 2012 and 2014. Even though citation rates varied from nil to 628, over half ( n = 27, 59%) of the studies were cited 10 times or more. The median number of subjects was 18,042 with five studies including over 1,000,000 patients. Of the included studies, 35 (76%) were published in specialty journals and 11 (24%) in general medical journals. The many conditions studied largely corresponded well with conditions important to general practice.

CONCLUSION

Survival analysis applied to primary care electronic medical data is a research approach that has been frequently used in recent times. The utility of this approach was demonstrated by the ability to produce research with large numbers of subjects, across a wide range of conditions and with the potential of a high impact. Importantly, primary care data were thus available to inform primary care practice.

Beyond the Surface

Purpose: To describe rates of and reasons for follow-up among adolescents and adults receiving contraceptive implants in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Methods: Retrospective comparison of patient-initiated implant-related contacts during the 6 months postinsertion among adolescents (110) and adults (154) who had implants placed at a FQHC network. Results: Forty percent of adolescents and 26% of adults initiated follow-up ( P = .016). Bleeding changes and discussing removal were the most common reasons for follow-up for both groups. Adolescents (5.5%) and adults (9.0%) had similar removal rates ( P = .348). However, among patients who discussed implant removal, adults were more likely to have removals compared with adolescents ( P = .002). Conclusions: Other FQHCs may anticipate a similar experience to ours, where adolescents may be more likely than adults to initiate implant-related follow up, with removal rates of less than 10% at 6 months. Further study of physician decision making and patient autonomy regarding implantable contraception removal requests is warranted.

The safety of intrauterine devices among young women: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to determine the association between use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) by young women and risk of adverse outcomes.

METHODS

We searched Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, Popline and the Cochrane Library for articles from inception of database through December 2015. For outcomes specific to IUD use (IUD expulsion and perforation), we examined effect measures for IUD users generally aged 25 years or younger compared with older IUD users. For outcomes of pregnancy, infection, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and heavy bleeding or anemia, we examined young IUD users compared with young users of other contraceptive methods or no method.

RESULTS

We identified 3169 articles of which 16 articles from 14 studies met our inclusion criteria. Six studies (Level II-2, good to poor) reported increased risk of expulsion among younger age groups compared with older age groups using copper-bearing (Cu-) IUDs. Two studies (Level II-2, fair) examined risks of expulsion among younger compared with older women using levonorgestrel-releasing (LNG-) IUDs; one reported no difference in expulsion, while the other reported increased odds for younger women. Four studies (Level II-2, good to poor) examined risk of expulsion among Cu- and LNG-IUD users combined and reported no significant differences between younger and older women. For perforation, four studies (Level II-2, fair to poor) found very low perforation rates (range, 0%-0.1%), with no significant differences between younger and older women. Pregnancies were generally rare among young IUD users in nine studies (Level I to II-2, fair to poor), and no differences were reported for young IUD users compared with young combined oral contraceptive (COC) or etonogestrel (ENG) implant users. PID was rare among young IUD users; one study reported no cases among COC or IUD users, and one reported no difference in PID among LNG-IUD users compared with ENG implant users from nationwide insurance claims data (Level I to II-2, fair). One study reported decreased odds of bleeding with LNG-IUD compared with COC use among young women, while one study of young women reported decreased odds of removal for bleeding with LNG-IUD compared with ENG implant (Level I to II-2, fair).

CONCLUSION

Overall evidence suggests that the risk of adverse outcomes related to pregnancy, perforation, infection, heavy bleeding or removals for bleeding among young IUD users is low and may not be clinically meaningful. However, the risk of expulsion, especially for Cu-IUDs, is higher for younger women compared with older women. If IUD expulsion occurs, a young woman is exposed to an increased risk of unintended pregnancy if replacement contraception is not initiated. IUDs are safe for young women and provide highly effective reversible contraception.