Birth control implants – an effective option
– GPHC Family Planning Clinic finds
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, July 9, 2019
The single rod birth control implant called Implanon is being used by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s family planning clinic as one of the most effective methods of preventing pregnancies. This type of implant, which is said to have fewer side effects, takes the place of another called Jadelle, which is a double rod implant.
Birth control implants are one of the most widely demanded services at the family planning clinic and are available free of cost to women who wish not to get pregnant within a three to five-year period.
More women are opting for this method of contraception because it is long lasting and does not require attention after it has been placed in the arm. How does it work? It releases hormones into the body that effectively prevents pregnancy.
According to Head of the Family planning Department Nurse Debbie Dundas-Haley, the process of injecting the implant is quick, easy and painless.
“When patients come here, we educate them first about it, we tell them what to expect: we tell them it’s inserted into the upper arm, so you first have to wash your upper arm then we place you on bed to lay on your back, we identify the area with a marker then we use iodine for sterility purposes, numb the area then shoot in the implant.”
Nurse Haley advised that one day after the implant has been inserted there will be a soreness to the implant site; however, this can be alleviated with the use of ibuprofen tablets.
The head of family planning said that this procedure has been conducted at the health facility for more than five years, and there has never been a case returning with serious complication as a result of the implant. Additionally, scores of women have been taking advantage of the service as it is recommended by family doctors who advise couples on planned pregnancies. “Because it’s (Implanon) something new here, they are all excited and we have an influx of patients every Wednesday morning within the hours of 7:00 am to 07:30 when we conduct the registration. So, we would have approximately 60 persons, and so far, we haven’t had any returns for removals.”
She added that there are several other birth-control options available to women. Those available here in Guyana are Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs), Depo-Provera injection, and the insertion of the Intra Uterine Device (IUD)
It was stressed that a pregnancy test is mandatory before any of these procedures are done.
These contraceptive services are also available at all GPHC Health centres, namely Enmore, Industry and Kitty Health Centres as well as the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) in Quamina Street.