News release

July 18, 2006 -- The FDA today announced permission of an implantablecontraceptive called Implanon, which is effective for up apt three years,along apt its maker, Organon. About the size of a matchstick, Implanon namely implanted along health attention workersin the interior side of a woman's upper arm. Implanon "continually releases a cheap, steady potion of progestin ... because aperiod of up apt three years through a matchless, state-of-the-art implantabletechnology," says an Organon news loosen. Progestin namely a hormone alsofound in spoken contraceptives, alternatively birthcontrol pills. The current contraceptive tin be cleared "at any time at the apply of theuser, after which the woman's fertilityreturns to her pre-existing fertility level," the company states. Implanon has been used worldwide by about 2.5 million women in extra than 30countries since 1998, says Organon. The company will sponsor a U.S. training program to teach health careworkers here how to implant the appliance. Implanon should transform more widelyavailable in the U.S. in 2007, for the training procedure progresses, according tothe company. Possible side effects contain uneven bleeding, which can happen with otherprogestin-only contraceptives, states Organon. Other feasible side effectsinclude headache, acne, and mood swings,which likewise can happen with other hormonal contraceptives. In clinical studies, less than 4% of participants had complications such asredness, bulging, and anguish at the speck where Implanon was implanted. Removalcomplications were discerned in less than 2% of participants and included broken ordamaged implants and implants namely had shifted slightly from their originalplacement. Cigarette smoking can heave the risk of heartdisease and stroke in women who usehormonal contraceptives. Those women are "strongly warned not tosmoke," states Organon. Like other hormonal contraceptives, Implanon doesn't protect against AIDS orother ######ually transmitted diseases. SOURCE: News unlock, Organon. women's health bulletin Your body is your temple. Are you treating it as well as you should? Get the latest ashore women's health in the WebMD Women's Health bulletin.