Long-term risk of reproductive cancer among Vietnamese women using the quinacrine hydrochloride pellet system vs. intrauterine devices or tubal ligation for contraception.

Objectives: To determine the long-term risk of reproductive tract cancer in women using the quinacrine hydrochloride pellet system of permanent contraception (QS) relative to the comparable risk in women using Copper T intrauterine device (IUD) or tubal ligation surgery (TL) for long-term or permanent contraception. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study, conducted in the Northern Vietnamese provinces of Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh and Thai Binh. Women who had their first QS procedure, last IUD insertion or TL between 1989 and 1996 were interviewed regarding post-procedure health outcomes, particularly reproductive tract cancers. Results: A 95% response rate resulted in 21,040 completed interviews. Reproductive cancer incidence rates were very low (5.77/100,000 women years of follow-up time; 95% CI = 3.72-8.94). No significant excess hazard of reproductive tract cancer was associated with QS. Conclusions: No significant excess long-term risk of reproductive tract cancer was found after an average 16 years of follow-up among a large group of women using QS vs. IUD/TL for contraception.