NORPLANT Implants

Reading Room

Recommendations for Contraceptive Use

NORPLANT^Ž Implants

Q.13. Is hard tubing still being used in the manufacturing of NORPLANT^Ž Implants? Should the removal technique be handled differently in women with hard tubing?

Recommendations

Rationale

a) No. Hard tubing is no longer being used to manufacture NORPLANT^Ž Implants.

a) NORPLANT^Ž Implants manufactured with hard tubing are no longer manufactured or distributed. They were provided through 1992, however, and are still used by many women.

b) No. The removal procedure for women with hard tubing NORPLANT^Ž Implants is identical to the removal of soft tubing NORPLANT^Ž Implants.

b) The clinical parameters of NORPLANT^Ž Implants differ between these two types of tubing. Heavy women using hard tubing NORPLANT^Ž Implants experience a higher pregnancy risk than women using soft tubing because less hormone diffuses out through the hard tubing (see Question 4). However, the physical removal procedure is the same for both hard and soft tubing NORPLANT^Ž Implants.

Any part of Recommendations for Updating Selected Practices in Contraceptive Use may be reproduced or adapted to meet local needs without prior permission from the TG/CWG Secretariat, provided the TG/CWG is acknowledged and the material is made available free of charge or at cost.

Last Updated: 09 Jul 2003

URL: http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/
Reproductive Health Online (ReproLine): a family planning and reproductive health training website