contraceptive (implant, Norplant)
Last reviewed 01/2018
Norplant is a progestagen implant that is designed to provide contraception for five years. The capsules of levonorgestrel are inserted subdermally at one visit - user failure is eliminated during successive years.
The risk of pregnancy when using Norplant is 0.2 per 100 woman-years within the first year; the risk increases slightly with time and with increasing weight.
Norplant does not provide protection against sexually-transmitted disease.
Over three million women worldwide are using the implant.
Norplant was discontinued in the UK from October 1999.
timing of insertion of Norplant