Norplant:Levonorgestrel Implants
1966 Research and development program begins in the laboratiories of the Population Council's Center for Biomedical Research. 1968 First clinical experience with Silastic capsules releasing progestin is reported in Santiago, Chile. 1974 Six-Capsule Silastic drug delivery system is developed. First clinical studies begin in Chile. 1975 Multinational phase III trial is initiated in six countries: Brazil, Chile, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Finland, and Jamaica. Clinical trial begins in Chile, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. 1980- Preintroduction trials begin in: colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, India, 1982 Indonesia, and Thailand. Phase II/III studies begin in the U.S.. Another multinational clinical trial begins in Chile, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Sweden, and the U.S.. 1983 Leiras, of Turku, Finland, is licensed to manufacture and distribute Norplant implants. Finland becomes the first country to give regul- atory approval to the method. 1984- The World Health Organization(WHO) evaluates the Norplant method 1985 response to a request for technical evaluation by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The WHO concludes that Norplant implants are an "effective and reversible long-term method of fertility regulation, particularly advantageous to women who wish an extended period of contraceptive protection." 1985 Sweden, Ecuador, and Indonesia approve Norplant. The International Planned Parenthood Ferderation includes Norplant on the commodities list made available to it affilates. 1986 Norplant is approved by Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Thailand 1987 Norplant is approved by Peru, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela. Preintroduct- ion studies or private sector training are under way in Bulgaria, El Salvador, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Senegal, South Korea, Soviet Union, Taiwan, Tunisia, Venezuela, and West Germany. 1988 Norplant is approved by chile. Long-term postmarketing surveillance of Norplant is started in seven countries. 1989 Norplant is approved by China, Czechoslovakia, and Kenya. 1990 Norplant is approved by Bangladesh, Singapore, the U.S., and Malaysia and preintorduction studies begin in Bolivia and Madagascar. 1991- Norplant is approved in Jamica, Manritius, Mexico, the Soviet Union, 1992 Palau, and Rwanda, bringing to 24 the nuber of regulatory approvals. In addition, Haiti, Nepal, and Tunisia have authorized use in their family planning programs. as of June 1992, more than 1.5 million women have used the method in countries where Norplant is approved; mor than 55,000 women in 46 countries have accepted Norplant in clinical or preintroduction studies. 1993 Mali and the United Kingdom approve Norplant. Method introduced in October to U.K.(Great Britain).
Norplant is a birth control method that has come out on the market not too long ago. It is a long acting contraceptive, which will last for up to about 5 years. The Norplants are inserted into a woman's arm surgically. Six small little sticks containing a hormone call progestin, similar to progesterone, is slowly released into the blood stream to prevent pregnancies. Within the first 1 1/2 years, a high dose of progestin is released. After that, the level drops down to the level of what a Pill might contain, for the remaining time. After the 5 year period, the Norplants has to be removed. Because this method requires surgery, the cost may seem a little pricey compare to other methods. This procedure can cost up to about $400. However, one has to keep in mind that this lasts for up to 5 years .
It takes about 15 minutes to put Norplant in place. First, the inside of your arm above your elbow is cleaned. Next, the spot where the implants will be put in is numbed. Then a small cut is made in the skin. Last, the 6 implants are placed just under your skin in a fan shape. A bandage is put on to protect the spot for a few days.
It takes about 30 minutes to take out Norplant. First the skin over the implants is cleaned and numbed. Next, a small cut is made close to the tips of the implants. All 6 implants ar then taken out. If you want to keep using norplant, a new set of implants is put through the same cut. You can choose to have Norplant taken out at any time. It must be taken out after 5 years or if you get pregnant.
Click here if you wish to see the procedure. Removal Procedures
Most women don't have problems when Norplant is put in or taken out. Sometimes, it burns hen the arm is numbed. Some women feel tugging or pressure when the implants are put in or taken out. Often, the spot wher the implants are put in is bruised and sore until it heals. Rarely, there are other problems. A few women have had implants come out. Once in a while, as Norplant is taken out, an implant breaks. Also, the cut has become infected in a few women.
Most wemn who use Norplant have a change in their menstrual bleeding. There's no way to tell what kind of bleeding change you will have until Norplant is put in. Here are the changes that may happen.
Implant Insertion $426 Implant Removal $111 Removal/Reinsertion $514
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