Actual cost of providing long-acting reversible contraception: a study of Implanon cost.
BACKGROUND
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has judged Implanon to be the most cost effective of the long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods, and its cost effectiveness is enhanced with increased duration of use. Gwent Sexual and Reproductive Health service provides unrestricted use of Implanon, and with the number of implants fitted increasing annually the service wanted to know how long clients were keeping their contraceptive implants in and the cost of implant provision.


METHODS
The actual cost of providing Implanon was calculated in a cohort of 493 patients within a community-based sexual and reproductive health service, and compared to that predicted in the NICE Clinical Guideline 30 on LARC.


RESULTS
The annual cost for the method (using Implanon) was pound77.49, 25% lower than the estimate made by NICE, despite a shorter duration of use of the method.


CONCLUSIONS
The actual cost in this community-based sexual and reproductive health service may not be transferable to other settings such as general practice.
Community Gynaecology and Sexual Health, Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, Cwmbran, UK. clare.lipetz@gwent.wales.nhs.uk
Clare
C
Lipetz
Ceri
C
Phillips
Charlotte
C
Fleming
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; C044815:etonogestrel; D017135:Desogestrel