This study documents the counseling experiences and beliefs about Norp
lant(R) implants that are held by an ethnically diverse sample of low
income clinic patients in the United States. Virtually all implant acc
epters, but only about half of those choosing other contraceptives, re
ceive information about the Norplant system during clinic-based counse
ling. Exposure to group counseling and to a film regarding Norplant im
plants are associated with high levels of knowledge among acceptors. S
everal important patterns emerge in comparing the beliefs of patients
choosing the Norplant system with those of patients choosing other met
hods of birth control. Substantial proportions of the latter group adh
ere to several inaccurate beliefs about the method, associating its us
e with: long-term health problems, problems for future babies, future
fertility problems, infection, and high cost. These outcomes in partic
ular, as well as several others described, should be systematically ad
dressed and reviewed in contraceptive counseling.