INJECTIONS AND IMPLANTS

These are very effective, long term hormonal methods of contraception.

One advantage these contraceptives have over other hormonal methods of contraception (such as the pill) is that you do not have to remember to take them every day. Once you have an injection or implant, you are protected from pregnancy for a long time.

There are two types of contraceptive injections Depo-Provera is the most commonly used contraceptive injection. it protects you against pregnancy for 12 weeks. The other injection, Noristerat, gives contraceptive protection for 8 weeks.

Injections use a progestogen hormone this is injected into muscle and is released very slowly into your body.

It is over 99% effective. This means that less than 1 woman in 100 will get pregnant in a year.

Implants are small soft tubes, which are placed just under your skin. They release a hormone over a number of years. Different implants are being developed, but at the moment Norplant is the only, one available in the UK.

Norplant is made up of 6 very small, soft, rubber tubes. The tubes are about the size of matchsticks. They are placed just under the skin of your upper arm. They steadily release a progestogen hormone into your bloodstream. Norplant works for five years.

It is over 99% effective in the first year of use. This means that less than 1 woman in 100 will get pregnant in a year.

It is 98% effective over 5 years. This means that 2 women in 100 will get pregnant in five years.