{blacktriangledown}Etonogestrel implant

doi:10.1136/dtb.2001.39857

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2001;39:57-59; doi:10.1136/dtb.2001.39857

${blacktriangledown}$ Etonogestrel implant

Relevant BNF section: 7.3.2

Levonorgestrel 38mg subdermal implant (Norplant), intended toprovide contraception for 5 years, was withdrawn in the UK in1999 due to unwanted effects (menstrual disturbances) and difficultiesin removing the device. Since then, &#9660etonogestrel*implant (Implanon - Organon), another progestogen-only subdermalcontraceptive device, has become available in the UK. The manufacturerclaims that etonogestrel implant provides contraception forup to 3 years and is easy to insert and remove. Here, we considerthe place of etonogestrel implant.