Contraceptive choice in the first 1075 acceptors at an urban clinic in Lagos has been studied. An IUD was the most popular choice followed by the injectable contraceptive and the pill. Interval tubal ligation was chosen by some patients. Acceptors of injectables were older women of high parity and lower educational standard while pill acceptors were of lower parity and higher educational level. The IUD was acceptable to all ages and parities except those with only one child or none.
Loss to follow-up and the wish to plan another pregnancy were the commonest reasons for discontinuing contraception. Medical reasons for discontinuing the IUD were pain, menstrual disorder, accidental pregnancy and expulsion/perforation, and for discontinuing injectables the reasons were menstrual disorder, accidental pregnancy and raised blood pressure.