Ten years of experience with Norplant implantation in southern Thailand

PurposeThis study investigated clinical and contraceptive characteristics of a group of southern Thai women who had two consecutive Norplant implantations at Songklanagarind Hospital.MethodsSeventy reinsertions were performed from 251 original Norplant implantations during the years 1986–1996. Four women had an exposed capsule within 3 months after reinsertion, and two of them subsequently had to have the capsule removed due to infection.ResultsFollowing implantation, the recipients had gradually increased body mass index and systolic blood pressure, which returned to baseline 6 months after discontinuance after 10 years of implantation. Long-term continuation rates were 76.7% and 74.0% at the end of the first and second 5-year periods, respectively.ConclusionThe failure rate was 1.8% during the second period compared to 1.1% during the first period.