IMPLANT FAILURE RESULTING IN AN UNINTENDED PREGNANCY IN A WOMAN LIVING WITH HIV: A CASE REPORT.
Rahmah Abdul Rahman1,2, Syahnaz Mohd Hashim2,3, Juliana Idora Abdul Jalal1.
1Selayang Baru Health Clinic, Jalan Sungai Tua, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Ministry of Health Malaysia.
2Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
3Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
ABSTRACT
Effective and safe contraception is crucial for women living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to prevent unintended pregnancy, mother-to-child transmission, disease progression and psychological impact. Anti-retroviral treatments (ART) are known to have many drug-drug interactions, causing a dilemma among physicians in choosing the most suitable contraception for women living with HIV (WLHIV). One of the suitable choices is the long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC), such as contraceptive implants, but this method is not without issues. This case illustrates an Implanon failure that led to an unintended pregnancy in an HIV-positive woman on anti-retroviral treatment and suffered from depression. Contraceptive implant failure has been reported in co-administration with Efavirenz-based anti-retroviral therapy, with studies demonstrating a decline in serum concentrations of etonogestrel and levonorgestrel.
Keywords: Contraception, HIV, Implanon, Implant Failure, Pregnancy, Women.
Corresponding author: Syahnaz Mohd Hashim, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: 603-9149459; Email address: syahnaz@ukm.edu.my;syahnaz@ppukm.ukm.edu.my
Brunei Int Med J.2024;20:24-28