The Sunday Mail
Health Reporter
The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council has introduced a new contraceptive for women, Implanon, which it says has fewer side-effects than existing methods and is easily administered. Implanon is a matchstick-sized plastic rod registered with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe last year. It is inserted in the arm and over three years releases the hormone etonogestrel, which prevents ovulation and fertilisation.
ZNFPC technical services director Dr Edmore Munongo said: “So far, gynaecologists in Harare have been trained to administer the contraceptive, and we will be cascading the training to other provinces soon.
“An advancement of medication as more research is being done necessitates that we keep introducing contraception with less side-effects and easy to administer.”
Implant contraceptives uptake in Zimbabwe is at three percent, although women’s overall use of birth control is 59 percent.
Norplant, which comprised six small silicone capsules that prevented pregnancy for five years, was at one point widely used before it was officially phased out in 2008. There have been reports, though, that it still finds its way onto Zimbabwe’s market.
Some Norplant users complained of weight gain, headaches, abdominal cramps, fatigue and mood swings, among other side-effects.
Another contraceptive, Depo-provera, was also said to cause similar discomfort.
Jadelle — consisting of two thin, flexible silicone rods — is presently one of the most popular implants legally available.
