Use stopgap contraceptives, FPAI expert advises women

Dharwad: National president of Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) Dr Ratnamala Desai advised the women to opt for temporary means that would prevent conception instead of going for permanent family planning measures in a system where the size of the family is shrinking.

Speaking at a programme to inaugurate the ‘Master Trainers’ Training camp’ organised jointly by the ministry of health and family welfare, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, World Health Organisation and FPAI at the Dharwad branch of FPAI for Subderminal Single Rod Contraceptive Implant (IMPLANON NXT) she said that by using contraceptives on a temporary basis, a woman will have the option of bearing the child according to her choice. Going for permanent means to prevent conception will deprive the woman of a choice to have a child, Dr Desai said.

The subdermal single rod implant is a new Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive. It replaces the older types of contraceptive implants like the Norplant, Jadelle, Sino-Implant and Implanon.

Dr Ratnamala Desai who is also the principal of SDM Medical College and Hospital, Dharwad, said Implanon NXT is a single rod almost the size of a matchstick, which contains a hormone similar to progesterone called Etonogestrel. It also contains barium sulphate, and hence is radio-opaque. Implanon NXT is provided with a special, innovative preloaded, disposable applicator, she said.

Explaining the advantage of the new contraceptive, she said it is one of the most effective contraceptives. “The failure rate is less than one in hundred women using the implant for one year. Implanon NXT is effective for 3 years. It needs to be inserted in the upper arm by a trained provider. The procedure is simple, short and painless. The implant can be inserted in a clean procedure room in the OPD itself. The insertion of the Implant is done under local anaesthesia. The implant can be removed anytime by a small incision under local anaesthesia,” Dr Desai said.

The Family Planning Association of India has been propagating the use of new contraceptive.

Trainer Sujata Singhal, district health officer Dr Shashi Patil, Dr MN Tavarger, Dr Rajan Deshpande, Dr Kamala Apte, FPAI branch manager Sujata Anishettar and Hemal Desai also spoke.