Randomized trial of one versus two transcervical insertions of quinacrine pellets for sterilization

Objective: To determine the relative effectiveness of single vs. two transcervical monthly insertions of 252 mg of quinacrine for female sterilization. Design: Controlled clinical study. Setting: Family planning clinics of 6 academic centers. Patient(s): Sexually active reproductive-age women requesting sterilization. Intervention(s): At each of six centers 70 and 30 women were randomly assigned to receive either one or two, respectively, monthly transcervical insertions to the fundus of 252 mg of quinacrine and 75 mg of diclofenac as pellets and they were followed for 1 year. Main Outcome Measure(s): Complications, side effects, and pregnancy failures. Result(s): There were no serious complications and side effects were transient and easily treated. There were 31 (7.4%) pregnancy failures in the single insertions group and 2 (1.1%) in the two insertions group, but with marked center variation. Conclusion(s): Quinacrine sterilization using two monthly insertions of 252 mg of quinacrine appears safe and reasonably effective.