RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To compare the contraceptive efficacy, tolerability and bleeding patterns of Implanon and Norplant. METHODS: One hundred healthy female volunteers received either Implanon (75 cases) or Norplant (25 cases) for 4 years, followed up with complain, bleeding patterns, hemoglobin, blood pressure, weight. Record the time of insert and remove. RESULTS: There were no pregnancies during the study. Per 90-day reference period, the average number of bleeding-spotting days with Implanon decreased from 33 day in the first period to 21 day in the last year, and Norplant decreased from 31 day to 20 day. The average bleeding number of times was 2.25 of Implanon and 2.99 of Norplant per reference period (P < 0.05). The mean insert time was 11 second of Implanon and 103 second of Norplant. The mean remove time was 27 second of Implanon and 102 second of Norplant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both contraceptive systems demonstrated excellent contraceptive efficacy and were well tolerated. Because of its single-rod design, Implanon was significantly quicker to insert and remove than the multiple-capsule system.