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Implanted birth control effective but has a downside Date published: 6/17/2007
SINCE THE ADVENT Many women find it difficult to remember to take a pill every day, which can lead to unwanted pregnancies. In answer to this problem, methods that are just as effective as the pill but that require less remembering--like the IUD, the patch and the vaginal ring--were created. Despite all of this innovation, the perfect birth control method for all women has yet to be found, but options continue to evolve. One of the latest is an implantable progestin- You might remember that I wrote about this last year, when the FDA first approved it. Now that it's been on the market for a while, I want to provide more information. Implanon provides up to three years of contraception by way of a rod that is about the size of a matchstick that is inserted into the upper, inner arm. It can be put in place in the doctor's office. An injection of local anesthetic is given at the site on the arm where the Implanon will be placed, and an instrument is used to insert it just under the skin. Other than the stick and sting of the anesthetic, the insertion is painless. There may be some soreness and bruising for a few days after the insertion, but this will resolve on its own. The whole process takes only about 10 to 15 minutes. Just like any other method of birth control, Implanon has its pluses and its minuses. Its pluses are that it provides birth control protection for up to three years, making remembering to use your birth control unnecessary. It has a hormone similar to what's in the three-month birth control shot without many of the negative side effects. In pre-market studies, women were not found to experience weight gain, mood swings or bone loss with Implanon, problems that can occur with the shot.
Date published: 6/17/2007
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