The Department of Health dismissed Friday reports that the new family planning method called progestin sub-dermal implant would result in abortion.
Like any other contraceptives publicly available, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the PSI had some temporary side effects like a headache, acne or pimples, weight gain, and breast pain, minor bleeding, vaginal itching, and menstrual cramps.
“The DoH strongly promotes the use of implants for couples who wish to space their pregnancies,” he said.
He also advised couples to wait at least eighteen months before getting pregnant again to maintain the best health for the mother and child.
The implant, Duque said, consisted of a single, matchstick-sized rod that contained the hormone progestin.
He said the contraceptive implant was inserted in the left arm of right-handed women and vice-versa and could provide protection up to three years.
“Some of the PSI’s advantages include ease of use, can be removed anytime and is highly effective,” Duque said.
He likewise reminded first-time users to leave the bandage on the wound for a day to prevent confusion, to avoid getting the wound wet for three to five days, clean the wound every day, avoid sexual contact for a week, consult a doctor for any unusual feeling after the procedure, and return to the doctor after three months and every year thereafter for a checkup.
The health chief noted that it is an effective approach to meeting the global need for more beneficial and convenient manner of birth spacing among women.
The oH clarified the misconception that it causes abortion among users through an issuance of the Food and Drug Administration Advisory No. 2017-302 (Results of the FDA’s Re-evaluation of Contraceptive Products for Recertification) that declared PSI as among the contraceptive products that are non-abortifacient.