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Sexual Health Centre
Birth Control

Norplant

Norplant injection
Norplant rods are inserted in the arm. (Art by Kathryn Maney)
Norplant is implanted in the inner upper arm as six tiny rods. They can remain in place and protect you from pregnancy for up to five years. Norplant is over 99 percent effective against pregnancy but it does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

Norplant contains a progestin similar to one of the hormones that control a woman's menstrual cycle. When a woman uses Norplant:

  • her ovaries stop releasing eggs
  • the mucus in her cervix gets thick making it harder for sperm to enter
  • the lining of the uterus gets thinner making it hard for a fertilized egg to attach to the wall

How to Use Norplant

Norplant must be inserted in a clinic or a doctor's office. Before you have Norplant implanted, check whether your doctor or clinic will remove the rods at a later date. Some physicians do not do removals or charge extra for the removal.

The underside of your arm is numbed but you remain awake for the procedure. A tiny incision is made and the rods are inserted in a fan shape. This takes 15 to 20 minutes and can be covered with a bandage. When it is healed you can't see the rods (unless you are very thin) but you can feel them under the skin.

You should use another method of birth control as back up for a full week after insertion. After three months, return to your doctor or clinic for a check-up then continue to have your regular check-ups.

To make sure you are not pregnant, Norplant should be inserted:

  • during your period
  • within seven days of an abortion
  • at least six weeks after the birth of a child
    (Once you have successfully started breast-feeding, Norplant is safe and will not interfere with your production of breast milk.)
Norplant must be removed after five years but it can be removed sooner if you have side effects or wish to get pregnant. This may take slightly longer than having the rods inserted. Your arm may be painful for a few days. Your arm is numbed with an injection before the rods are removed.

Advantages

  • very effective
  • periods may be lighter
  • may decrease menstrual cramps or pain
  • may help control the pain associated with endometriosis
  • can be rapidly reversed
  • you don't have to interrupt sex
  • the woman controls this method of birth control
  • can remain in place for five years
  • you don't have to remember a daily pill

Disadvantages

  • expensive (around 500 dollars)
  • does not protect against sexually transmitted infections
  • may cause irregular bleeding
  • must be removed at a clinic or by a doctor
  • an infection in your arm is possible
  • sometimes difficult to remove
  • some women can't use Norplant
You shouldn't use Norplant if you are pregnant, have abnormal vaginal bleeding, liver diseases such as jaundice or hepatitis, or breast cancer. Norplant is less effective if you weigh over 200 pounds or are taking some anti-seizure medications or antibiotics. If you are taking these drugs temporarily, you should use a back-up form of birth control for at least a week.

The side effects of Norplant are very similar to the side effects associated with Depo-Provera. If these side effects interfere with your life you may wish to consider other methods of birth control. Women on Norplant may experience:

  • irregular menstrual bleeding
  • moodiness
  • irritation around the implant in your arm
  • weight gain (uncommon)

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Last Updated: April 2009