NEXPLANON®                                                             

by Dr James Purdy

Implantable contraception

Nexplanon® is a small, thin, implantable hormonal contraceptive that is effective for up to three years.Subdermal Implanon was approved in July, 2006 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Birth control that lasts up to 3 years

  • Effective :Nexplanon® is more than 99% effective:- the chance of getting pregnant is less than 1 pregnancy per 100 women who this method.
  • Discreet:After insertion of the rod (Nexplanon®), the site can not be seen.
  • Long-acting:Nexplanon® provides up to 3 full years of contraceptive protection.

About Nexplanon® (previously Implanon®)

NEXPLANON® is a single-rod implant for subdermal use that offers women up to 3 years of pregnancy protection. More than 4.5 million IMPLANON® have been sold worldwide as the previous subdermal contraceptive contraception. The new name NEXPLANON® signifies an easier application method for the provider who inserts the subdernal contracetive.

A good candidate for NEXPLANON® is a woman seeking effective, long-acting contraception that does not need or want a daily, weekly, or monthly dosing of contraception. Subdermal Nexplanon is insert and forget about taking daily, weekly, or monthly dosing of contraception!

Practical considerations:

  • A young woman not ready to start a family.

  • A busy mother who wants to space her children.

  • A woman who wants no more children but does not want a sterilzation procedure

This contraceptive device is a synthetic silastic rod containing etonogestrel 68 mg that in inserted beneath the skin in the upper arm on the inside aspect. This is subdermal contraception that is flexible and can not be seen since it is buried beneath the skin. It can be barely felt.

Etonogestrel 68 mg is a synthetic progestin. The progestin is a controlled release from the implanted rod over three years. By 7 days after insertion, the progestin suppresses ovulation and become an effective birth control device.  The contraceptive effect of NEXPLANON® (etonogestrel 68 mg) is achieved by several mechanisms that include:

  • suppression of ovulation  - main method of action
  • increased viscosity of the cervical mucus to prevent sperm penetration into the cervix
  • alterations in the endometrium to an atrophic or low  thick level - same action as the birth control pill .

NEXPLANON® like other progestin therapies has some irregular vaginal bleeding. Dr. Purdy in his practice notes that most women but not all women that have had NEXPLANON®inserted will achieve no periods (amenorrhea) in 6 - 9 months. Usually the irregular vaginal spottimg or bleeding is light and becomes less with each month of use. During the interim time, the patient may see some montly irregular spotting, vaginal bleeding and rarely heavy irregular vaginal bleeding. that may require additonal  therapy by Dr.Purdy.

NEXPLANON® is covered by most insurance carriers and also by Medicaide and Alcaide government insurance programs. Dr.Purdy's office staff will seek coverage availability before this method of subdermal contraception is ordered and implanted by appointment only.

 

Important Safety Information

NEXPLANON®does not protect against infection from HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases (STD's). This is the same FDA warning that applies to all methods of contraception.  Like other methods of hormonal contraception, there are risks for blood clots in veins (of the legs )and there is a remote risk of pulmonary embolus. A peson with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT - blood clots in the leg) and blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary emboli) should not use this method of contraception.

Dr. Purdy has been trained in the proper insertion/removal of NEXPLANON®. Serious consequences may be associated with the improper  insertion and removal of NEXPLANON®. Failure to remove IMPLANON® may result in

  • infertility,
  • ectopic pregnancy 
  • undetected failure to insert NEXPLANON® may lead to an unintended pregnancy.

For appointment call 601.485.2609