Contraceptive Implants- What are they?
Contraceptive Implants have had a bad reputation in the past and are not as popular in America as the contraceptive pill. However, this site is about empowering you to make informed decisions about all types of contraceptive options so I’m presenting a 2 part post on contraceptive implants to provide you with the latest facts. Why 2 parts? I recently participated in a worldwide, on line forum on contraceptive implants, where I acquired a wealth of knowledge about this method of birth control. The reading ‘homework’ alone gave me access to a huge amount of the latest information but in order to distil the main facts for you it’s best if I split it up into two posts. In this first post let’s find out exactly what contraceptive implants ARE and how they work in your body.
Contraceptive Implants have come a long way since the earliest clinical trials in 1968.
Although no single contraceptive method is perfect or appealing to all, contraceptive implants fulfill a very important need when it comes to preventing pregnancy- especially for young women who want to put off having children for a few years or women who do not want any more children. The success rate of contraceptive implants is extremely HIGH- with less than one pregnancy per 100 females using implants over the first year. This means that 9,995 of every 10,000 women using implants will not become pregnant. The effectiveness of contraceptive implants is comparable to IUD’s and vasectomy in men and is claimed to be better than female sterilization. Implants are completely reversible upon removal and do not affect fertility.
What are Contraceptive Implants?
The ‘new generation’ implants are small, thin, flexible plastic rods, each about the size of a matchstick, that release a small amount of progestin hormone into the blood, either levonorgestrel (Jadelle, Sino-Implant (II)) or etonogestrel (Implanon) into the body. The implants are inserted into the inside of the upper arm, just under the skin and are invisible unless you are very thin. Progestin prevents pregnancy by thickening cervical mucous to make it really hard for those little spermies to reach the uterus-it can also prevent ovulation. Norplant was the first well known brand of contraceptive implant introduced in the 1980’s but this ‘6 capsule’ form of implant is being discontinued this year in favour of the other mentioned types which are quicker and easier to insert and remove.
Contraceptive Implants do not contain estrogen- so may be an option for women who are intolerant to estrogen and also women who are breastfeeding (starting 6 weeks after birth)
Contraceptive Implants do not protect against STD’s
Contraceptive Implants are not experimental- they have been approved by the FDA.
Why do some women like Contraceptive Implants?
- do not need user to attend to them once they are inserted
- pregnancy is prevented VERY effectively
- are long lasting
- don’t interfere with sex
- have no known health risks
Why do some women not like Contraceptive Implants?
- changes occur in vaginal bleeding pattern (prolonged irregular bleeding during the first year, then lighter, regular or infrequent bleeding. Up to 1/3 of women using contraceptive implants report no bleeding at all after 1 year)
- headaches, abdominal pain and other side effects may occur (not a sign of illness and these usually stop or become less during the first year )
Who can use Contraceptive Implants?
Implants are safe for nearly all women, including adolescents and women over 40, whether or not they have had children, had an abortion, miscarried or had an ectopic pregnancy. Women with HIV, varicose veins, anemia and YES smokers can use contraceptive implants!
If you are considering using contraceptive implants yourself- you need extended appointment time with your doctor to thoroughly discuss all aspects before committing to this method of birth control. You need to weigh up the acceptability and management of any side effects (especially the change in bleeding patterns) when assessing the advantages and effectiveness of contraceptive implants. Family planning groups insist contraceptive implants are almost completely effective at preventing pregnancy and have fewer side-effects than the combined contraceptive pill. Contraceptive implants are now approved in more than 60 countries around the world and have been used by approximately 11 million women worldwide (Bongaarts and Johansson, 2000).
In the next post I shall list some FAQ’s and address some misunderstandings about contraceptive implants that will be an essential guide if you want to discuss this form of contraceptive with your doctor.
Source: Info project, Centre for Communications, Johns Hopkins Bloomburg School of Public Health
