Dear phillipiapup,

Yes, the implant that is available now -- Implanon -- is both safe and effective.. Implanon consists of one implant that is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. It is 99 percent effective, and it lasts for up to three years.

The contraceptive implant that was taken off the market several years ago was called Norplant. It consisted of six rods. Although Norplant was an extremely safe and excellent form of birth control, many women experienced problems when they had the six implants removed. To reduce the risk of similar problems, a special insertion device to help ensure ease of removal has been developed for Implanon.