New birth control implant available at clinic

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
Health Canada has approved a new birth control implant, providing another contraceptive option to women of all ages.
Called the Etonogestrel implant, it is available at the Claresholm Medical Clinic where Dr. Alyson Brebner and Scott Smith will administer the implant.
Dr. Brebner said the Etonogestrel implant has been around Europe and the United States about 20 years, and was recently approved by Health Canada.
“It’s an old option new to Canada,” she said. “The safety data is quite good.”
The Etonogestrel implant is a contraceptive implant, specifically a small rod that goes under the skin in the upper part of the arm. It stays in place three years, and works for birth control for any woman who wants it. It is also a contraceptive option for women who are breast feeding.
The implant can be done at the Claresholm Medical Clinic. Women can make an appointment with their own doctor or Dr. Brebner or Dr. Smith.
There is a fee to cover the cost of the Etonogestrel implant, no different than purchasing any pharmaceutical or medication, but no fee from the Claresholm Medical Clinic. Alberta Health covers that.
Dr. Brebner stressed she has no relationship with the pharmaceutical company that provides the Etonogestrel implant.