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Implanon- New 3 Year Contraceptive Available Now!

FDA Approves IMPLANON (etonogestrel implant) 68mg, The First and Only Single-Rod Implantable Contraceptive Implant

On July 18, 2006  the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved IMPLANON (etonogestrel 68mg),the first and only single-rod implantable contraceptive that is effective for up to three years.

Implanon is a relatively new contraceptive technology that is injected underneath the skin of the upper arm by a health care provider in her or his office, much like Norplant (which is no longer available in the United States), but with only one rod. The Implanon rod slowly releases a progestogenic hormone called etonogestrel over the course of three years.

Implanon is inserted relatively painlessly into the underside of the upper arm after local anesthetic is used to numb the area. A health care provider will use a special applicator to insert the rod just underneath the skin, taking about one minute as a simple office procedure. A woman won't be able to see the rod (unless she is very thin), but she can feel it with her fingers. Tissue forms around it after insertion to make sure that it doesn't move. Some women may experience slight swelling after insertion, but other problems are rare.

The rod itself is 40 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter (about 1.5 inches by 0.08 inches), and is made of a biodegradable synthetic material that is commonly used in artificial joints. Implanon can be inserted at any time, but health care providers recommend having it inserted between the first and fifth day of menses or, if she is on the pill, the day after she takes the last pill for the month. If Implanon is inserted at any other time, it is recommended that a woman use other contraception for the first 7 days.

The Implanon rod contains 68 milligrams of etonogestrel that is released in extremely low, but steady doses over the three-year period. Implanon acts as a very effective contraceptive in two ways : the etonogestrel thickens cervical mucus, which in turn prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg and, most importantly, Implanon also completely inhibits the release of eggs from the ovaries during the 3 years it is used.

Removal can occur at any time at the request of the user, after which fertility will return almost immediately. The removal of the rod takes slightly longer than the insertion, about two minutes, but with the use of local anesthetic, most women describe minimal discomfort. A health care provider makes a tiny incision in the skin near the tip of the rod and then pushes the rod out from underneath the skin. Within several days of removal, etonogestrel will no longer be in the blood stream, and fertility returns to its pre-Implanon state within one month. A small scar (2 mm) may remain where the rod was removed.

In studies of over 2,000 women for three years, not one who used Implanon became pregnant. The makers of Implanon do warn, however, that no method of contraception can be 100 percent effective.

While using Implanon, women should continue to see their health care provider for yearly checkups. During clinical trials, about 25 percent of the women in Europe and Canada discontinued use within 2 years, primarily due to complaints about irregular bleeding. This number is not significantly different from discontinuation rates for Norplant and other progestin-only forms of contraception.

IMPLANON has been used worldwide by approximately 2.5 million women in more than 30 countries since 1998. Recognizing that IMPLANON is unlike anything currently available in the U.S., the pharmaceutical company, Organon USA will be sponsoring a national clinical training program to train healthcare providers on the insertion and removal procedures. Only healthcare providers trained through the Organon-sponsored programs will be able to order IMPLANON The clinical training program is scheduled to begin later this year. As the training program progresses, IMPLANON will become more widely available in 2007.

"Even the best intentioned women can have difficulty using their birth control method consistently, which can lead to unintended pregnancy," said Wayne C. Shields, president and CEO of the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals.  "The new contraceptive implant, IMPLANON is indicated for three years, so it can be a hopeful alternative for women who prefer not to think about birth control every day, week, or month."

All the health care providers at The Women's Healthcare Group are excited about this new contraceptive option! While no one form of contraception is ideal for every woman, we believe that Implanon will fill a void for those interested in a highly effective, progestin-only, long-term contraceptive that can be quickly and easily inserted, and, perhaps more importantly, can be as quickly and easily removed with a rapid return to fertility. The cost of purchasing the Implanon itself is approximately $525, which should be covered by your insurance if it covers contraception. We will be happy to check on this coverage for you.

One of our Obstetrician-Gynecologists, William Unwin, M.D., was asked by Organon USA to become a trainer to teach other health care providers about Implanon and the insertion and removal techniques. Because of this, we are fortunate to be able to offer this new contraceptive option to our patients immediately! To find out if Implanon is the right contraception choice for you, please call and schedule an appointment.

For more information about IMPLANON log onto http://www.IMPLANON-USA.com/ or call 1-877-IMPLANON (1-877-467-5266).

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