Friends have been sending me a meme that has been doing the rounds on Facebook about contraceptive implants. The meme features a picture of an implant with a skull and crossbones. Along with other misinformation, it equates the implant to abortion. It seems that this is the latest attempt of the ultra-conservative religious groups to hamper the efforts of the Department of Health to distribute implants. I’d like to provide the scientific information about implants.
The hormonal implant is one of the modern forms of contraception available in the Philippines. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines. The FDA, the Department of Health, and even the Supreme Court of the Philippines have all explicitly stated that the progestin subdermal implant does NOT induce abortion. Instead, it is a highly effective form of contraception that prevents unplanned or unwanted pregnancies (second in efficacy only to the IUD).
We have found a very high demand for the implant among community women once they understand what the implant is and how it works. To date, we have provided over 12,000 women with implants.
Of those more than 12,000 women, not a single one has died. Not one.
There have also been no cases of women inducing abortion by getting an implant. We actually had one woman who tried to do so. She lied about her last menstrual cycle and what contraceptive she was using. She did this because she knew she was pregnant and she hoped the implant would cause an abortion. Several months later she gave birth to a healthy baby. We’ve had other clients who got implants without realizing they were already pregnant and the implants had no negative effects on their pregnancies.
Here is more information on the implant. Please share this widely to combat the misinformation campaign that anti-contraceptive groups have been sharing to try to scare women.
Hormonal Implant (Implanon)
What is it?
- The contraceptive implant is a thin, flexible plastic implant about the size of a matchstick. It is inserted under the skin of the inner upper arm.
How it works to prevent pregnancy:
- The birth control implant releases a hormone (progestin). The progestin tricks the body into thinking it is pregnant. The body keeps the eggs from leaving the ovaries. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with the sperm. Progestin also makes a woman’s cervical mucus thicker. This keeps sperm from getting to the eggs.
How long is it effective?
- Up to three (3) years
Advantages:
- The ability to become pregnant returns quickly when you stop using the implant.
- It can be used while breastfeeding.
- Women who cannot take estrogen can use it.
- It gives continuous long-lasting birth control without sterilization.
- There is no medicine to take every day.
Possible risks or side effects:
- Irregular bleeding especially in the first 6–12 months of use.
Best for:
- Women who want at least a 3-year break in child-bearing.
Not recommended for:
- Women who have breast cancer.