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Obstetrics & Gynecology 2003;102:24-26
© 2003 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH

The Levonorgestrel Two-Rod Implant for Long-Acting Contraception: 10 Years of Clinical Experience

Livia S. Wan, MD, Andrew Stiber, MD and Lai-yet Lam, MD

From the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.

Address reprint requests to: Livia S. Wan, MD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016; E-mail: livia.wan{at}med.nyu.edu.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness, side effects, and retention rate of the levonorgestrel two-rod implant used as a long-acting contraceptive.

METHODS: Voluntary participants, ages 18–40 years and desiring long-acting contraception, were enrolled in the study. The original design was to observe the participants for 5 years. Later, the follow-up period was extended to 6 years.

RESULTS: A total of 249 women underwent two-rod implant insertion and were observed for a total of 823 woman-years. There were two pregnancies observed during the study, yielding a pregnancy rate of 0.24 per 100 woman-years. One pregnancy occurred in the first month, and the other occurred after 6 years of use. The major side effect was menstrual irregularity. No serious side effects were observed during the study. Insertion of the device was easy and took less than 2 minutes; removal time averaged 4.5 minutes.

CONCLUSION: The levonorgestrel two-rod implant system is an effective, convenient, long-acting, and well-tolerated method of contraception.






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