Table 3.
Side effects most frequently reported by DMPA and NET-EN users
| Side Effect | DMPA (%) | NET-EN (%) | P Value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 84) | (n = 95) | ||
| Menstrual irregularities | |||
| Amenorrhoea # | 67.5 | 58.9 | 0.240 |
| Spotting | 9.5 | 12.6 | 0.510 |
| Heavy periods | 8.3 | 7.4 | 0.792 |
| Irregular periods | 3.6 | 10.5 | 0.074 |
| Longer periods | 2.4 | 4.2 | 0.497 |
| Dysmenorrhoea | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.930 |
| Vaginal wetness | 22.6 | 14.7 | 0.175 |
| Weight gain | 14.3 | 8.4 | 0.214 |
| Loss of libido | 10.7 | 8.4 | 0.601 |
| Dizziness | 10.7 | 6.3 | 0.289 |
| Headache | 10.7 | 4.2 | 0.094 |
| Nausea | 9.5 | 3.2 | 0.077 |
| Vaginal discharge | 8.3 | 3.2 | 0.132 |
| Vaginal discharge with odour | 7.1 | 3.2 | 0.223 |
# Includes thirty breastfeeding women. Although amenorrhoea was reported as a side effect of IPC use, it could have been lactational amenorrhoea * Chi-square (1 degree of freedom, significance tested at the 5% level)