The introduction of contraception has significantly improved lifestyle choices for women. The majority of women go to their general practice for contraception, and therefore, GPs have an important role in helping to guide their decision-making. The progesterone-only implant is one of the four available long-acting methods of contraception; it works mainly by preventing ovulation. It is a small 40-mm rod that is implanted into the subdermal tissue in the upper arm, where it provides contraception for up to 3 years. It is both one of the most reliable methods of contraception and is more cost-effective than traditional methods.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AffandiB. (1998) An integrated analysis of vaginal bleeding patterns in clinical trials of Implanon. Contraception58: 99S–107S. doi: 10.1016/S0010-7824(98)00123-1.
2.
BaheiraeiA.ArdsetaniN.GhazizadehS. (2001) Effects of progestogen-only contraceptives on breast-feeding and infant growth. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics74(2): 203–205.
Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. (1996). Breast cancer and hormonal contraceptives: Collaborative reanalysis of individual data on 53 297 women with breast cancer and 100 239 women without breast cancer from 54 epidemiological studies. Lancet, 347, 1713–1727.
5.
CoolingH.PauliH. (2006) Full term pregnancy with Implanon in situ. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care32(3): 204. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2008.06.016.
6.
DaviesG. C.LiX. F.NewtonJ. R.Beek AvanCoelinghBenninkH. J. T. (1993) Release characteristics, ovarian activity and menstrual bleeding with a single contraceptive implant releasing 3-ketodesogestrel. Contraception47(3): 251–261. doi: 10.1016/0010-7824(93)90042-6.
LidegaardO.LokkegaardE.JensenA.SkovlundC. W.KeidingN. (2012) Thrombotic stroke and myocardial infarction with hormonal contraception. New England Journal of Medicine366(24): 2257–2266. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1111840.
14.
ManthaS.KarpR.RaghavanV.TerrinN.BauerK. A.ZwickerJ. I. (2011) Assessing the risk of venous thromboembolic events in women taking progestin-only contraception: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism96(4): 1169–1174. doi: 10.1136/bmj.e4944.
15.
MascarenhasL.van BeekA.BenninkH. C.NewtonJ. (1998) A 2-year comparative study of endometrial histology and cervical cytology of contraceptive implant users in Birmingham, UK. Human Reproduction13(11): 3057–3060. doi: 10.1093/humrep/13.11.3057.
16.
NewtonJ.NewtonP. (2003) Implanon – the single-rod subdermal contraceptive implant. Journal of Drug Evaluation1: 181–218.
Trussell, J. (2011). Contraceptive efficacy. In R. Hatcher, J. Trussell, A. L. Nelson, W. Cates, D. Kowal & M. Policar (Eds), Contraceptive technology (20th revised edition). New York: Ardent Media, pp. 779–863.
22.
WellingsK.ZhihongZ.KrentelA.BarrettG.GlasierA. (2007) Attitudes to long acting reversible methods of contraception in general practice in the UK. Contraception76(3): 208–214. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2007.05.085.
23.
WinnerB.PeipertJ. F.ZhaoQ.BuckelC.MaddenT.AllsworthJ. E.SecuraG. M. (2012) Effectiveness of long-acting reversible contraception. New England Journal of Medicine366(21): 1998–2007. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1110855.
