Comparative evaluation of two once-a-month contraceptive injections.

Two once-a-month preparations cyclo provera (Depo-medroxy Progesterone Acetate 25 mg and Estradiol Cypionate 5 mg) and HRP-102 (Norethisterone enanthate 50 mg and Estradiol Valerate 5 mg) were tried in two groups of women by random allocation, and their effectiveness, complaints and reasons for discontinuation were studied. A total of 206 women were admitted (104 on cyclo provera and 102 on HRP-102) and studied for one year. There was little difference in the efficacy and side-effects between the two preparations. One pregnancy occurred with HRP-102 giving a pregnancy rate of 1.4%. The overall discontinuation rates at 1 year were 57.6% for cycloprovera and 54.9% for HRP-102. The discontinuation rates for bleeding irregularities, were 21.2% and 21.8% respectively for cycloprovera and HRP-102. Five women discontinued due to lack of bleeding or amenorrhoea. The respective figures were 4 and 1 for cyclo provera and HRP-102. Both products were highly effective and, if introduced in the national Family Planning Programme, they will fulfill an important role (JPMA 39:98, 1989).