Implanon contraceptive implant

It is believed that over 550 women in the UK have fallen pregnant whilst relying on the Implanon contraceptive implant since its introduction in 1999, with 1607 reports of adverse reactions.The implant was subsequently withdrawn from the market in October 2010.

The manufacturer of the device advises that the 4cm single-rod device is inserted by a nurse or doctor and is situated in the inside of the upper non-dominant arm. It is said to be approximately 99% effective in preventing pregnancy if it is inserted correctly.

Implanon was discontinued within the UK market because of reported cases of non-insertion and deep-insertion. The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the body who oversees the UK medical products market, received a number of reports, from healthcare professionals, complaining that the Implanon applicator made it difficult to know whether the semi-rigid rod had actually been inserted into the arm or not. It was also said to be difficult to locate the implant on radiology.

In some cases it has been noted that the Implanon was never actually inserted into the woman’s arm at all.

Women who believed that they have been fitted with the Implanon device and later discovered that they had not may be entitled to seek compensation for unexpected pregnancy. In many cases, the women have had to take the difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy or have had other complications during pregnancy such as still-birth and the birth of a disabled child. Many women suffered from an associated psychological impact due to the pregnancies.

In some cases the Implanon has been implanted incorrectly causing damage to the bicep muscles and nerves necessitating surgery to remove the implant. Women have been left with scarring and in other cases, where the implant was very deep in the arm, required physiotherapy and other treatment to aid recovery.

If you have become unexpectedly pregnant whilst using the Implanon implant or have been injured and would like to discuss the circumstances of your case please contact Thomas Rees who is a specialist medical negligence solicitor on 02920 470909 or at enquires@martynprowel.co.uk.