Norplant is a new method of birth control recently approved for use in the United States. It consists of flexible Silastic capsules filled with levonorgestrel, which are inserted subdermally on the inside of the upper arm. Norplant provides a near steady-state level of levonorgestrel for five years. It has been used in many European, South American and Asian countries, and in clinical studies in the United States. Norplant has an excellent continuation rate by users, and it is highly effective. It causes minimal adverse effects other than irregular menstrual patterns.