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Jim Shelton's Pearls

April 14, 2003

Implanon vs. Norplant

P:Thanks for the information about the Implanon contraceptive implant. How does it compare to Norplant?

R:See table below. The apparent advantages of Norplant are the longer duration and the cheaper price currently. The advantage of Implanon is the ease of insertion and removal because of the single implant and the special inserter. Norplant uses the traditional 2nd generation progestin levonorgestrel, while Implanon uses a 3rd generation progestin 3-ketodesogestrel at a level that is perhaps a bit higher in relative dosage. Effectiveness and side effects appear to be pretty similar.

 

Norplant

Implanon

Duration of Potential Use

7 years but still FDA labeled as 5 years

3 Years

Number of Implants

6

1

Ease of Insertion and Removal

More difficult

Easier and faster (has special inserter)

Progestin

Levonorgestrel

3-ketodesorgestrel (etonorgestrel)

Cost

+Public sector price

Public sector price appears higher

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The "Pearls" offer answers to commonly asked questions about family planning. These "Pearls" are prepared by Dr. James D. Shelton, Senior Medical Scientist, Office of Population, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

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