Norplant system

Last reviewed 01/2018

Norplant is a progestagen implant that is designed to provide contraception for five years. The capsules of levonorgestrel are inserted subdermally at one visit - user failure is eliminated during successive years.

The risk of pregnancy when using Norplant is 0.2 per 100 woman-years within the first year; the risk increases slightly with time and with increasing weight.

Norplant does not provide protection against sexually-transmitted disease.

Over three million women worldwide are using the implant.

Norplant was discontinued in the UK from October 1999.