Research, introduction, and use: Advancing from Norplant (R)

As the first real contraceptive innovation in over 20 years, and as a long- acting method requiring clinical intervention for insertion and removal, No rplant(R) raised an especially wide range of issues. It also encountered a number of difficulties. In April 1997, an Institute of Medicine (IOM) works hop on implant contraceptives reviewed newly available data on Norplant's e fficacy, safety, and use; considered lessons learned from the method's deve lopment, introduction, and market experience; and explored approaches based on those lessons that could improve the environment for contraceptive rese arch and development and make market entry for new contraceptive technologi es less troubled. In addition to presenting the IOM workshop findings, the present article calls attention to the rich scientific prospects available for development of the next generation of contraceptives, and notes signs o f an evolving new paradigm, essential if those prospects are to be realized to any significant extent. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reser ved.