Birth control and you: The implant

THE contraceptive skin implant is a novel device that provides a ‘set it and forget it’ type of long-acting reversible protection.

Obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Ryan Halsall says the implant consists of a capsule or multiple capsules filled with levonorgestrel.

“This hormonal drug acts as an effective contraceptive agent much in the same way other hormonal methods do,” Dr Halsall says.

Some features of the implant include:

1. Preventing the ovary from releasing eggs

2. Thinning the lining of the womb to prevent any pregnancy from implanting

3. Thickening secretions in the cervix to prevent sperm from getting into the womb.

According to Dr Halsall, while the implant is by no means new and has been in use from the early 1980s, it has gone through some significant design changes in recent times.

“Initially the device came as a six-rod or capsule system, but today that has been scaled back to either one or two more concentrated rods,” he explains.

Dr Halsall points out that it is inserted under the skin using a simple office procedure which involves numbing the arm before inserting the rods. He says it is effective for up to five years with rapid return of fertility after removal.

As for its availability locally, Dr Halsall says the implant is readily available in Jamaica presently, but there have been supply issues from time to time.

With regards to side effects, he says they may include mainly irregular bleeding, which although easily treated, is often a cause for concern for a number of users. However, he explains that it is usually self-limiting — resolving on its own after the first couple of months.

Other side effects include nausea, headaches and weight gain. He warns that the implant should be avoided by women with liver disease, blood clots or unexplained vaginal bleeding.

— Kimberley Hibbert