Skin-Insert Contraceptive to Hit Domestic Market Late April

A contraceptive inserted under the skin as long-term contraception device will hit the domestic market in late April.

Multi-national medical manufacturing company, Korea Oganon, whose headquarter is in Netherlands, stated on the 6th that they will sell contraceptive `Implanon` which is inserted under the skin in the domestic market following Europe, South East Asia, Australia, Brazil and others.

The company said, "Implanon is effective for 3 years and eliminates the inconvenience of taking medicines everyday like the birth-control pills."

Implanon is a prescription medicine that should be implanted surgically by a doctor under the skin of the upper arm. The length of the operation is 1.1 minute and implant goes into effect the day of insertion.

Korea Oganon commented, "The result of clinical demonstration from 1988 to 1996, 2362 women from 5 European countries like England and the Netherlands were in possible pregnancy period from 18 to 40 age groups. There was no pregnancy case after implanting this contraceptive. However, 20.8 percent of women did not have menstruation and 26.1 percent had side effects such as reduced frequency of the menstruation cycle."

In other words, if a woman wants to become pregnant after 3 years of implanting of contraceptive, Implanon should be removed.

Jin-Han Lee likeday@donga.com