Countrywide news coverage in January 2011 reported almost 600 women becoming pregnant after using Implanon, a contraceptive implant. A growing number of women continue to contact us with similar complaints and therefore this figure may be even higher than previously reported.
Implanon is implanted under the skin of the inside upper arm and once in place, provides contraceptive cover for three years. Women should be shown how to feel the implant is in place at the time of fitting. The implant should be fitted in the first five days of a woman’s period to protect from pregnancy straight away. If it is fitted any other time in the cycle women should be advised to use additional contraception for the first seven days.
On 5th January 2011, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) released a Safety Warning to patients. The advice issued by the MHRA is on the basis that there are potential problems with the insertion of this product. It appears that in the majority of women who have had an unintended pregnancy following Implanon fitting, the implant was found not to have been inserted at all.
Women who can feel their Implanon implant, and who are within the three-year timeframe for having one fitted, do not need to take any action as there do not appear to be any concerns about the implant’s effectiveness once in place. However, if you cannot feel your implant you should seek medical advice.
There could be a number of reasons for contraception failure including insertion error or failure, and incorrect timing for insertion. If you have become pregnant as a result of a contraceptive implant failure, you may have a clinical negligence claim.
Please contact us to see how our Clinical Negligence team can assist you, either by telephone on 0115 989 5307 or by email to baishali.majumdar@nelsonslaw.co.uk to discuss your concerns without obligation.
Implanon Contraceptive Implant Failure
