Project Highlights

The Sydney Centre for Reproductive Health Research, Research Division of Family Planning NSW has been involved with several exciting and innovative projects that have the potential for improving future reproductive and sexual health choices for women and men.

Firstly, with a prestigious grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA the centre is participating (along with three other institutions) in a trial of three potential treatments for the problematic bleeding some women experience whilst using the progesterone contraceptive implant Implanon.

The five-year trial will study the management and treatment of frequent and prolonged bleeding in women using Implanon. "It is rare for any NIH grant to be awarded to a group based entirely outside the USA which makes us particularly proud of the achievement," said Professor Ian Fraser, chief investigator and Honorary Director of the Sydney Centre for Reproductive Health Research, Research Division of Family Planning NSW (formerly FPA Health).

Since its introduction in May 2001, over 160,000 women have had Implanon inserted. It has a 3 year lifespan and is at least 99.91% effective in preventing pregnancy. However, around 30% of women using Implanon experience troublesome bleeding and two thirds of those discontinue use.

"Because a significant proportion of women experience unacceptable bleeding in the first six months of using Implanon, a safe and effective treatment for this would be a major advance in improving contraceptive choice and the social wellbeing of women in Australia and worldwide," said Dr Edith Weisberg, Director of Research at FPNSW.

Three treatments have been trialed in the pilot phase of the study and have been shown to be effective in stopping an episode of bleeding. We are now trialing these alone and in combination at monthly intervals for 3 months to see if we can improve long-term bleeding patterns.

Women aged between 18 and 45 years, with Implanon in place for at least 3 months and experiencing problem bleeding can take part.

The research consortium for this trial consists of the Sydney Centre for Reproductive Health Research, Research Division of FPNSW Sydney; Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne; Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne; University of Western Australia, Perth; and University of Queensland, Brisbane.

For more information on any of these and other trials conducted by the centre or to volunteer for a trial click on the appropriate icon, call the Research Coordinator on 02 87524 350, or email research@fpahealth.org.au