Ten years of experience with Norplant implantation in southern Thailand.

Purpose: This study investigated clinical and contraceptive characteristics of a group of southern Thai women who had two consecutive Norplant implantations at Songklanagarind Hospital.

Methods: Seventy reinsertions were performed from 251 original Norplant implantations during the years 1986-1996. Four women had an exposed capsule within 3 months after reinsertion, and two of them subsequently had to have the capsule removed due to infection.

Results: Following implantation, the recipients had gradually increased body mass index and systolic blood pressure, which returned to baseline 6 months after discontinuance after 10 years of implantation. Long-term continuation rates were 76.7% and 74.0% at the end of the first and second 5-year periods, respectively.

Conclusion: The failure rate was 1.8% during the second period compared to 1.1% during the first period.