Implanon. a review of clinical studies
Edwards, J.E.; Moore, A.
British Journal of Family Planning 24(4 Suppl): 3-16
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0144-8625 PMID: 10068281 Document Number: 522855
At the outset of this review we stated that an ideal contraceptive method combines an inherently effective method with-patient acceptability. It must, at the same time, be practical for use in the time-constrained environment of general practice. Implanon has been demonstrated to be a highly effective contraceptive device, with no method failures yet demonstrated following 70 000 cycles in use. It is generally well tolerated, with 82 per cent of women started on therapy in clinical trials continuing its use beyond two years. In trials comparing Implanon with Norplant, there was no difference in recorded adverse event rates, with fewer than three per cent of women on either treatment withdrawing as a result. Of those women who did withdraw from Implanon therapy, 57 per cent did so as a result of menstrual irregularity (a problem inherent in any progestogen-only contraceptive method); 25 per cent of withdrawals were as a result of adverse events, the remaining 18 per cent being due to other reasons. Implanon proved to be quicker than Norplant both to insert and to remove: 90 per cent of Implanon insertions were achieved in less than three minutes, compared with 37 per cent of Norplant insertions. Removal time for Implanon was less than five minutes in 83 per cent of instances, compared with 36 per cent of Norplant removals. On the basis of these findings, Implanon can be seen to offer the necessary combination of efficacy, compliance and acceptability to both doctor and patient. Used in appropriately selected patients, it offers a credible alternative to existing methods of hormonal contraception.
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