The DEBI trial is needed to find out if taking a daily desogestrel contraceptive pill is as good as taking a daily combined pill at improving problem bleeding in implant users. Nearly a quarter (24%) of Contraception implant users experience some form of problem bleeding once the implant has been inserted. The most common treatment for problem bleeding on the implant is the combined pill, however not everyone can take it. Desogestrel, a progestogen only contraceptive pill, can also be used to treat problem bleeding. However, we don’t know if it works as well as the combined pill to treat problem bleeding in implant users.
The study plans to randomise participants into two groups one to be given the combined pill and the other half will be given desogestrel. Neither the participant nor the research team will know which pill has been given until the end of the trial. Participants will be asked to take a pill once a day for 90 days. We follow up participants over 90 days to see if there are any changes in their bleeding patterns and to check that they are taking their trial treatment.