A hypodermic implant registered by the
Population Council under the trade mark NORPLANT is a high-efficient contraceptive
of long-term reversible action. It has been included in the register of
contraceptives relatively not long ago. NORPLANT consists of six soft hollow
capsules made of silicon rubber.Each capsule is 2.4 mm on diameter and
34 mm in length and contains 36 mg of levonorgestrel. Capsules are implanted
under the skin of a shoulder under local anesthesia. After being injected
they are being feeled but are invisible. Contraceptive effect is enabled
by slow continious discharge of levonorgestrel into bloodflow. Contraception
begins in 24 hours after the injection and durates about five years. Fertility
is restored almost right away after removing capsules.
Action:
It is supposed that NORPLANT similar to other medications containing
progestagen effects as follows:
- supress ovulation,
- condense cervical mucus and thus prevent sperm moving through
cervix into the cavity of the uterus,
- cause thinning and athrophy of the endometria.
NORPLANT is an appropriate method for the most women of reproductive
age, especially is recommended to the women who:
- prefer a long-term contraception,
- prefer a method which is nothing to do with sexual intercourse,
- can not use contraceptions containing estrogen.
Absolute contraindications:
NORPLANT should not be given to women with:
- malignant tumour of lactiferous gland,
- malignant tumour of cervix of the uterus, uterus or ovaries,
- diseases of the brain vessels or heart ischemia.
Absolute contraindications for the certain period:
- pregnancy or supposed pregnancy (before prevention of pregnancy),
- pathological haemorrhage from the genitals of the unclear aetiology
(before clearing up a diagnosis, first of all in order to exclude
cancer),
- supposed cancer of the lactiferous gland (before the final diagnosis
is made).
Relative contradindications:
- severe anemia, blooid coagulation disorders, or supposed anticoagulant
therapy.
Special cases
- lactation periods (Hormonal methods are not the best choice
for nursing mother. But contraception with only prostagen and nothing more
is not a contraindication for nursing women. They can use NORPLANT in six
weeks after delivery.
- body weight. If a woman weighs more than 60 kg, a risk to
become pregnant after the second year of using the implant is more than
for the women with a less weight.
Side effects and problems
Side effects might be manifested in the form of menstrual period transformations,
headaches, putting on weight or depression. If health problems arised including
pain in thorax, supposed cancer, severe depression, severe incurable hemorrhage
from the vagina, you should consult experienced personnel and be examined
apropos of removing of the implant.
Bringing in and removing of the NORPLANT
Bringing in and removing could be performed only by physicians specially
trained in this procedure, in a clinic apporopriately equipped. Procedures
should be performed provided sterility was observed. During 1-2 days in
the point of introducing capsules one might feel some discomfort or oedema.
The place where the implant was introduced should be moistened by water
during three days. A contraceptive effect begins immediately after introducing
the capsules and durates up to their removal. Disorders of the periods
are possible, but it does not mean decreasing of a contraceptive effect.
The first visit to a doctor should be made not later than a month after
introducing. One should be immediately consulted in a clinic if one of
the following problems arose:
- aches in the arm, pus or blood excretions in the place of introducing
capsules,
- extremely severe hemorrhage from the vagina, absence of excretions
similar
to those during periods during six weeks after the last period,
- a severe stomach pain or a pain in the small pelvis,
- extremely severe headaches,
- ictericness of the skin and scleras,
- shortness of breath or an acute pain in the breast.
If you took a medical advice in some medical institution as regards
of some indisposition even not assosiated with NORPLANT you should tell
about ising it. You should be observed by a doctor during a month after
introducing the implant and after this at least once a year. After five
years of the contraceptive to be introduced another implant might be introduced
if the previous one were removed.