ONE-YEAR EXPERIENCE WITH SUBDERMAL CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANTS IN THE UNITED-STATES

Women who received Norplant(R) contraceptive implants from any of fift een clinical settings in southeast Texas, U.S.A., were followed for on e year to determine their reactions to the method. Of 1,385 who enroll ed to receive Norplant implants, 1,253 had implants inserted. Side eff ects were reported by 78% of those receiving implants and 70% describe d changes in bleeding patterns. Spotting or irregular bleeding, weight gain and headaches were the conditions reported most frequently. Nine pregnancies were reported during the study period. Six of these, howe ver, existed before the implants were inserted. At the one year annive rsary, 143 of women receiving implants had had them removed. Those who discontinued method use were less satisfied, reported more side effec ts and were more likely to have planned to have another child, thus us ing the method for spacing, or to have had a change in their marital s tatus while they were using the contraceptive. Providers should counse l patients to focus attention on plans for the future in selecting the ir contraceptive method. In addition, we recommend, as does the produc t's distributor, that providers confirm that patients are not pregnant prior to inserting implants.