ContraceptiveDevices

  Over the last two decades, women have experienced serious
side effects while using various brands of contraceptive devices.
Below is a description of documented problems and side effects
that may result from some types of contraceptive devices.

     Norplant is a hormonal contraceptive for women that prevents
pregnancy for five years after a single application. About 1 million
women in the United States have used Norplant. Annual U.S. sales
peaked in 1992 at $120.7 million but dropped to $4.4 million by
1997.

     Wyeth, the maker of Norplant, settled claims with more than
35,000 women who said the Norplant contraceptive device caused
side effects such as headaches, irregular menstrual bleeding,
nausea and depression. Other Norplant side effects include severe
headaches, nervousness, change in appetite, extreme weight gain,
hair loss, dizziness, acne, breast tenderness, swelling of the
ovaries and ovarian cysts, and difficulties with Norplant insertion
and removal.

Depo Provera is a shot given every three months that prevents
pregnancy through suppressing ovulation and making the cervix
uninhabitable for sperm. Women taking Depo Provera have
experienced side effects including nausea, depression, extreme
weight gain, osteoporosis, loss of sex drive, short term sterility,
headaches, hair loss, acne, weakness, and nervousness. Some
research indicates that Depo Provera is linked with increased risk
of breast and uterine cancer as well.

The Pill, known by a variety of brand names, is taken by over 10
million women in the United States. The birth control pill, the most
popular form of contraceptive device, has some safety issues of its
own. For example, some research suggests possible links
between birth control pill use and breast cancer, strokes, heart
attack and blood clots. Other side effects of the pill include breast
tenderness, depression and weight gain.



	Contraceptive Devices Information