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Contraceptive (subdermal)

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Nexplanon® is the only contraceptive implant on the UK market. From October 2010, it replaced the bio-equivalent Implanon®. It offered an improved insertion device and added barium sulfate to enable location of lost devices on X-ray.

The single-rod contraceptive implant is 99% effective for pregnancy prevention. (2)

It works primarily by preventing ovulation and also has additional contraceptive effect by thickening the cervical mucus and thinning the endometrial lining.(3)

Reference

  1. Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - Nexplanon® 68 mg implant for subdermal use. Electronic Medicines Compendium, March 2019
  2. Hatcher R. Contraceptive technology. 21st ed. New York: Ardent Media; 2018.
  3. The Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. Clinical guidance: progestogen-only implants. Feb 2021 [internet publication].

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