Sexpert: Nov. 17, 2011

Dear Sexpert,

I’ve heard a lot about a new form of birth control that some of my friends are trying. I’m not sure of the name of it, but it seems to be a little matchstick that is under the skin in her arm that somehow prevents pregnancy. Do you know what this is? Can you tell me more about it?

— Curious

Dear Curious,

The form of birth control that it sounds like you are describing is an implant called Implanon. Implanon is a hormonal form of birth control which is inserted under the skin on the inside of a woman’s arm in an outpatient procedure in her doctor’s office. The doctor usually numbs the area with a local anesthetic and then inserts the Implanon under the skin using a large injection device. Once the Implanon has been inserted, it usually isn’t visible and can’t be felt except when you rub the area. After the initial injection site has healed there should be no pain associated with the device.

Implanon works by releasing low doses of progestin hormone into the woman’s body. Thus, Implanon can be an attractive method of birth control for women who cannot tolerate the estrogen common in many birth control pills. Progestin prevents women from ovulating, thickens the cervical mucus and thins the lining of the uterus. Combined, these effects work to prevent pregnancy. In fact, Implanon is considered a highly effective form of birth control, perhaps even more effective than birth control pills. This is because even though it works through the same hormonal method as birth control pills, Implanon effectively reduces the chance for human error (such as missing a pill) which can make birth control pills less effective. Implanon is generally left in a woman’s arm and provides protection against pregnancy for three years, although it can be removed earlier than that if the woman wishes to stop using it.

Implant forms of birth control have an interesting history. An earlier incarnation of implant birth control called Norplant was commonly used in the 1990s. However, when thousands of American women filed suits against the markers of Norplant, citing side effects ranging from headaches to strokes, the maker of Norplant ceased to distribute the product in the United States in 2002, although it is still available overseas. Implant forms of birth control were unavailable in the United States until 2006 when the FDA approved Implanon. Since then Implanon has gained a modest market share, although women have been somewhat skeptical about using Implanon given the previous problems with birth control implants. Indeed, Implanon is in the process of being replaced by Nexplanon, which is the same product with a slightly simpler insertion procedure.

Like other forms of hormonal birth control, Implanon has numerous possible side effects including irregular bleeding (particularly for the first 12 months), changes in sex drive, headaches, breast tenderness and nausea. Weighing the costs and benefits of different forms of birth control is important, especially if you are considering using a longer term form of birth control such as an implant or an IUD. This can be a highly confusing process, but the good news is that the University has great resources to help you make the decision about which form of birth control is right for you. While Implanon is not available at University Health Services, your best bet if you are thinking of going on any type of birth control, including Implanon, is to make an appointment with Sexual Health and Wellness Services at McCosh to discuss your options further.

— The Sexpert

The Sexpert is written by a team of peer sexual health educators and fact-checked by University health professionals. You can submit questions to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com. Don’t be shy!