Experience of Thai women in Bangkok with Norplant-2 implants

A prospective study of the Norplant-2 contraceptive subdermal implant system was conducted in Bangkok, Thailand. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy, adverse effects, and overall acceptability of Norplant-2 implants. A total of 140 women were enrolled in a 3-year clinical trial. The mean age was 29 years. Of all the acceptors, 70% had completed primary school. The continuation rates at years 1, 2, and 3 were, respectively, 94%, 89%, and 83%. No accidental pregnancies occurred throughout the 3 years of use in this study. Personal reasons were the leading cause for termination of Norplant-2 implant use. The 3-year cumulative termination rate for personal reasons was 7.2%. These personal reasons were divorce, husband having vasectomy, and moving away from the study area. The other leading cause for termination was medical reasons; acne, headache, and pain at the implant site were the complaints. The termination rate for medical reasons in year 3 of the study was 4.6%. Prolonged menstrual flow was the other main reason for termination. The 3-year cumulative termination rate for menstrual irregularities was 3.8%. In this study, the cumulative termination for planned pregnancy at the end of the year 3 was only 1.6%. The incidence of difficult removals was 8%. Breakage of the rods on removal was encountered in the majority of these cases. The study findings presented suggest that the Norplant-2 implants are highly effective with high continuation rates. The Norplant-2 system could become another choice of long acting reversible contraception for Thai women.