A survey of postnatal contraception in opiate-using women.

OBJECTIVE To document the contraceptive choices and continuation rates for different contraceptives in a group of pregnant women who use opiates. METHODS A prospective study set in a large city in the north of England that looked at 40 pregnant women who used opiates in the index pregnancy. The study involved reviewing the records from the patients' general practitioners with information on the continuation rates of the chosen method of contraception and any related problems. RESULTS The women given Depo-Provera (n = 14) did not continue the method after the first injection. Those given implants (n = 20) had a 95% continuation rate at a mean follow-up of over 11 months. CONCLUSIONS Implants had a good continuation rate when used for postnatal contraception in women who used opiates in pregnancy. Depo-Provera may not be a suitable choice since all the women who chose this contraceptive method failed to continue with it.