Skip Navigation

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: The INFO Project

Your knowledge-sharing resource on family planning and reproductive health

Universal Navigation:
 INFO Home  |  Order  |  e-lists  |  Search Web Site  |  Contact Us  |  Press  |  Site Map  |  Español/Francais

Shopping Basket


Dr. Jim Shelton's Pearls

"Pearl" for the week of March 24, 2006

Future for implants

Q:I know USAID has continued to supply Norplant contraceptive implants in recent years, but I understand production of Norplant is being phased out. What future do you foresee?

A:Yes, Norplant production is being phased out. USAID’s contract for Norplant runs until December 2006. Currently there are 2 major alternatives to Norplant: 1) Jadelle, a 2-rod successor to Norplant that releases the same progestin levonorgestrel at very similar low levels, and is labeled as lasting 5 years, and 2) Implanon, which is a single-implant system using a different progestin, etanogestrel, with a somewhat simpler insertion procedure, but labeled as lasting for only 3 years.

USAID is considering shifting how to proceed after the current Norplant contract ends and has issued a request for proposals from implant producers to provide a successor implant. However, implants are expensive and whether USAID continues to provide an implant will depend in large measure on the price offered.



The "Pearls" offer answers to commonly asked questions about family planning. These "Pearls" are prepared by Dr. James D. Shelton, Senior Medical Scientist, Office of Population, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Government or The Johns Hopkins University.