Society of Family Planning Committee Statement: Management and removal of deep and nonpalpable contraceptive implants

This Committee Statement provides evidence-informed, person-centered guidance to optimize the identification, evaluation, management, and removal of deep and nonpalpable contraceptive implants. This guidance applies to clinicians removing the implants themselves or facilitating timely referral for removal. Appropriate referral includes a Center of Experience in the U.S. or similar tertiary experts outside the U.S. We discuss preventing the need for deep and nonpalpable implant removal by following proper subdermal placement techniques. When approaching removal of deep and nonpalpable implants, we recommend following a standardized protocol that addresses localization, positioning, marking the contraceptive implant location and measuring the depth, the necessary instruments, and removal techniques. When removing multi-rod contraceptive implants, we recommend that clinicians confirm both the number and location of the rods and adjust their removal approach accordingly. Finally, we discuss using the most appropriate diagnostic and procedural codes for deep or nonpalpable contraceptive implant removal services.