Implanon
- What is Implanon?
- How does it work?
- How effective is it?
- What if she doesn't want it anymore?
- What are the risks and side effects?
What is Implanon?
Implanon is a match stick sized piece of flexible plastic that contains progestin. It is implanted under the skin of a woman's upper arm. It requires only a routine doctor's visit to put into place, not any major surgery, and doctors are currently being trained to implant it in their offices. It does not contain estrogen, making it safe to use in people who can not use estrogen. It can be used effectively for up to three years. It is scheduled for release in the United States in 2007, and has been available in Europe and Australia since 1998.
How does it work?
Implanon is surgically implanted just under the skin on the inside of the upper arm. It works by continually releasing a hormone called progestin, which is the same hormone used in the Progestin Only pill. Progestin helps prevent pregnancy by inhibiting the release of the egg from the ovaries, increasing the thickness of cervical mucus (which makes it much harder for sperm to make it into the uterus and fertilize an egg) and by thinning the lining of the uterus, making it much harder for a fertilized egg to implant.
How effective is it?
In clinical trials, Implanon has been shown to be over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. There is no difference between perfect and typical user rates, because it is almost impossible to misuse this method.
What if she doesn't want it anymore?
If a woman no longer wants Implanon, or she wishes to become pregnant before the three year period is over, a routine doctor's visit is all it takes to have it removed. Once removed, a woman can get pregnant as if she had never used Implanon.
What are the risks and side effects?
The most important thing a woman needs to do after getting Implanon is check to make sure she can feel the implant under the skin of her arm after the doctor inserts it. If it can not be felt, another non-hormonal form of birth control, such as a condom should be used until the doctor determines whether or not the implant is in place. The most common side effect associated with Implanon is irregular and unpredictable bleeding. These side effects also occur with the Depo-Provera shot. Bleeding irregularities could include more, less or no bleeding, as well as random spotting. Other side effects associated with Implanon are the same as those associated with other hormonal forms of birth control, and potentially include: Mood swings, weight gain, headache, acne and depression. Also, if pregnancy occurs while on Implanon, there is a slightly higher chance of having an ectopic pregnancy (a fertilized egg implanting somewhere other than the uterus, such as in a fallopian tube) which could lead to more serious complications. The pregnancy problems are unlikely, given how hard is it to get pregnant using Implanon.
Added 1/16/07