17/07/2026
NEXPLANON Contraceptive implant now licensed for up to 5 years in the UK
The extension of the licensed duration of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant (Nexplanon®) to five years in the UK has been welcomed by the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH).
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has updated the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) to reflect the longer duration of use, following new clinical evidence demonstrating continued safety and effectiveness beyond the previously licensed three-year period.
Dr Rebecca Strauss, Clinical Director at CoSRH, said:
“This is a really positive step forward for both patients and services. Extending the licensed duration to five years due to robust clinical evidence, gives women greater flexibility and choice while also helping to reduce unnecessary clinical appointments.”
The updated guidance is based on findings from a Phase 3, multicentre, open-label study, which evaluated contraceptive efficacy and safety during years four and five of implant use. The study enrolled 498 participants aged 35 years and under who had already completed three years of implant use. Of these, 399 participants, with a mean age of 27 years, were included in the primary analysis.
Crucially, no pregnancies were reported during years four and five of use, and the study did not identify new safety concerns, providing strong reassurance that contraceptive effectiveness is maintained through extended use.
CoSRH highlights that the extended licence offers a significant benefit for both patients and healthcare services, reducing the frequency of replacement procedures and supporting more flexible, person-centred contraceptive care.
