Abstract

PIP: Norplant consists of 6 soft plastic capsules placed in the subcutaneous tissue on the inside of the upper arm which release levonorgestrel continuously over 5 years to prevent pregnancy. Health workers use an aseptic technique to insert the capsules within 0.5 cm of the incision. Scar tissue increases removal time to twice that of insertion time. The 1st year pregnancy rate is 0.2%. Body weight affects the cumulative 5-year pregnancy rate: 0.2% for 50 kg women, 3.4-5% for 50-69 kg women, and 8.5 for 70 kg women. It rises remarkably in the 3rd year. Women find the advantages to be, in order of importance, ease of use, effectiveness, long duration, reversibility, and arm placement. The most common misconception about Norplant is it causes cancer or sterility. Both before insertion and during the early months after insertion, family planning providers must thoroughly explain Norplant and stress how it is different from other contraceptive methods. 1 study reveals that the 1-year continuation rate for women who undergo careful preinsertion counseling is greater than it is for women who do not receive effective counseling (88% vs. 60%). The leading side effect is abnormal bleeding patterns. Even though bleeding patterns change, hemoglobin or ferritin levels do not decrease. In women who experience no bleeding, providers must conduct a urinary human chorionic gonadotropin test at 4-6 weeks. If the test reveal no pregnancy, they need to explain to the women that this is normal. Abnormal bleeding patterns improve with increased duration of Norplant use. Women who need to be carefully monitored or should not use Norplant are those with impaired glucose tolerance, hyperlipidemia, impaired liver function, premenstrual symptoms, and history of depression. The ideal candidate is a woman who has used oral contraceptives (OCs) with no side effects yet forgets to take them daily, has contraindications for estrogen, or has estrogenic side effects from OCs.