Brazilian municipalities expand free access to Implanon contraceptive implants

Municipal health networks in Brazil are expanding access to Implanon, a long-acting contraceptive implant.

In Brasiléia, the local government has launched the free offering of the method through the municipal health network. In the initial stage, 60 women have been provided the implant out of a total of 146 planned slots, with intentions to expand the service to rural basic health units. The Implanon is a small, flexible rod placed under the skin of the arm that releases etonogestrel, a progesterone-derived hormone, providing over 99% efficacy for up to three years.

Similarly, Rio Grande da Serra has introduced the free contraceptive method at its Medical and Specialty Center. The initiative prioritizes women of reproductive age in situations of social or psychosocial vulnerability, adolescents in institutional care, and women with chronic illnesses or immunological conditions that contraindicate other contraceptive methods. The implant is noted for its high efficacy, with a failure rate of approximately 0.05% per year.