Risk-benefit effects of implantable contraceptives in women.

Contraceptive implant technology has been used by millions of women throughout the world. The three marketed implant systems today are levonorgestrel-releasing implants: Norplant and Jadelle, and a single etonogestrel-releasing implant, Implanon. The main benefits common to these delivery systems are their safety, high effectiveness, ease of use, long duration of action (3 - 5 years) and reversibility. Bleeding disturbances are the main adverse events associated with implantable contraceptives. Other minor risks relate to the insertion and removal procedures, which require adequately trained providers as well as aseptic techniques. Furthermore, since initiation and discontinuation of use is provider-dependent and not controlled by the user, there may be a risk of coercion of use on the one hand or, on the other hand, difficulty in access to initiating use, if trained providers are not readily available. Although no single contraceptive method is perfect or appealing to all, contraceptive implants are safe and fulfil a very important need among fertility regulation methods.