Blood Chemistry of Implanon (Etonogestrel) Users in aNigerian Tertiary Institution

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the blood chemistry of the Implanon users after 12months of use.
Method: A prospective longitudinal pilot study that involved forty six healthy informed volunteers, non-breast feeding, sexually active and who had not been on injectable contraceptives for the previous 6months were enrolled from our family planning clinic between February and March 2007. Blood samples were collected at pre-insertion, 6 and 12months follow up forelectrolyte, urea, creatinine and liver function tests. Statistical analysis was with paired t-test. The level of significance was set at p< 0.05.
Result :The mean age and parity were 33.9 ± 5.2years and 3.0 ± 2.0 respectively. The mean weight was 71.4 ± 12.0kg. The total and conjugated bilirubin showed significant
202 reductions(p<0.000000071) 5.1 ± 6.8μmol/Land (p<0.000000000065)3.4 ± 3.4μmol/L, at 12months of study when compared with the mean values at pre-insertion of 17.1 ± 6.8μmol/L and 10.3 ± 3.4μmol/Lrespectively. At 6months the liver enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine transaminase (ALT) values were significantly reduced (p< 0.0078)31.8 ± 10.2I.U/Land (p<0.00073)14.4± 5.9I.U/Lwhen compared withtheir pre-insertion values of 48.4 ± 31.8I.U/L and 25.6 ± 16.3I.U/Lrespectively. Similar significant reductions were also observed at 12months ALP (p<0.000012) 18.5±9.6I.U/L and ALT (p<0.00000027) 7.7 ±4.4I.U/L. The aspartate transaminase (AST) concentration was significantly reduced at 6months only(p<0.04)18.3 ± 7.3I.U/L when compared to the pre-insertion mean value of 23.4 ±14.8I.U/L. The total protein concentration at pre-insertion was 72.0 ± 13g/L. There were no statistical significant changes at 6months (p<0.72) 71 ± 7.0g/Land at 12months(p<0.34) 75.0 ± 9.0g/L.The statistically significant changes observed in the concentration of sodium, potassium, chloride and creatinine at 6 and 12months were all within normal reference values.There were no statistically significant changes in the urea and bicarbonatelevelsat 6months and 12months.
Conclusion: The Implanon use over the 12months study period did not have any adverse effect on the liver and renal function tests.