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SOUTH AFRICA; GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REVEALED ITS PLANS TO GIVE SCHOOLGIRLS CONTRACEPTIVES; ALLEGED NEWS. [1] Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko announced the plan during a visit to Tshwane Secondary School during her Back to School 2025 programme; Alleged News. [1] The MEC announced plans to provide schoolgirls with contraceptives, reportedly with only the permission of their parents; Alleged News. [1]
Concern regarding Implanon
The plans were not well received by human rights organisations, including Section27, which wrote an open letter cautioning against the department's "misguided and unlawful" approach to the issue; Alleged News. [1]
"What is particularly concerning and would amount to an egregious violation of constitutional rights, reminiscent of coerced and forced sterilisation, is your decision to make the contraceptive, Implanon, an implant, compulsory for pupils based only on parental consent," said Section27; Alleged News. [1]
"Any attempt to forcefully administer contraceptives to young women and girls undermines their constitutional rights to bodily integrity and autonomy and con-currently constitutes gender-based violence and common-law assault," Section27 wrote: Alleged News. [1]
The open letter by Section27 added, "The law is clear; the department cannot make any form of contraception compulsory to pupils, even with parental consent," Alleged News. [1]
Department
The Department said the MEC was misunderstood, saying the concern was an "incorrect impression" that it intends to compel schoolgirls to receive contraceptives without their consent; Alleged News. [1]
"These services include subdermal implants, a long-acting contraceptive, alongside other methods such as condom use and abstinence, said spokesperson Motalatale Modiba; Alleged News. [1]
Implanon insertions
Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko announced a significant decrease in teenage mothers following a Teenage Pregnancy Seminar and various interventions: Alleged News. [2] MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko expressed her relief at the drop because of initiatives, one of them being Implanon insertions, preventing pregnancy for three to five years; Alleged News. [2]
Kwazulu-Natal
Steps to curb teenage pregnancy in Kwazulu-Natal have reportedly been proposed by a member of the Health Portfolio Committee, including using Implanon, a long-term contraceptive, in school-going children; Alleged News. [3]
IFP Member of the Provincial Legislature and Committee member Ncamisile Nkwanyana questioned whether the department had considered going to schools to implant the contraceptive device in learners amid rising concerns about teenage pregnancy; Alleged News. [3]
Some women have reported unbearable side effects
The abstract from the study by Mgobhozi et al., regarding women's experiences on the use of Implanon as a contraceptive method in a selected primary healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal, states the following: "The South African department of health recently introduced subdermal Implanon contraceptive implant with the aim to reduce teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality. First used in all public healthcare facilities across the country since early 2014, this method of contraception has been described as highly effective. However, some women have reported unbearable side effects, forcing them to remove the contraceptive implant early before its expiry date." [4]
Implanon side-effects
The side-effects of Implanon (etonogestrel) include:
- signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives, itching: red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat
- signs of liver problems such as dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-coloured stools, vomiting, or yellow skin or eyes
- signs of high blood pressure such as very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight
- signs of gallbladder problems such as pain in the upper right abdomen area, right shoulder area, or between shoulder blades; yellow skin or eyes, fever with chills; bloating; or very upset stomach or vomiting
- signs of skin infection such as oozing, heat, swelling, redness or pain
- weakness on one side of the body, difficulty with speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on one side of the face, or blurred eyesight
- depression or other mood changes
- eyesight changes or loss, bulging eyes, or change in how contact lenses feel
- a lump in the breast, breast pain or soreness, or nipple discharge
- flu-like signs
- vaginal bleeding which is not normal
- swelling or keeping of fluid in the body
- weight gain
- trouble breathing
- dizziness or headache
- pimples (acne)
- vaginal irritation
- menstrual changes such as spotting between cycles or very light periods
- irritation where rod was placed
- stomach pain
- throat irritation
- back pain
- upset stomach
- feeling nervous and excitable
- menstrual bleeding irregularities
- vaginitis
- breast pain
- leukorrhea
- dysmenorrhea
- urinary tract infection
- dysuria
- genital discharge
- vulvo-vaginal discomfort
- galactorrhea
- breast enlargement
- pruritis genital
- ectopic pregnancy
- breast discharge
- ovarian cyst
- headache
- dizziness
- migraine
- somnolence
- convulsions
- increased appetite
- weight increase
- weight decrease
- acne
- alopecia
- hypertrichosis
- pruritis
- rash
- angioedema
- aggravation of angioedema and/or aggravation of hereditary angioedema
- chloasma
- seborrhea
- urticaria
- abdominal pain
- nausea
- flatulence
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- vomiting
- pharyngitis
- rhinitis
- insertion site pain
- implant site complications s
- injection site reaction
- expulsion or migration of the implant. The implant has been known to move to the chest wall, as well as within the vasculature including the pulmonary artery.
- emotional lability
- depression
- nervousness
- decrease in libido
- anxiety
- insomnia
- back pain
- arthralgia
- musculoskeletal pain
- myalgia
- hypersensitivity
- anaphylactic reactions
- influenza-like symptoms
- pain
- hot flush
- fatigue
- edema
- pyrexia
- clinically relevant rise in blood pressure [5]
2025 Implanon class action lawsuit
Implanon lawsuits focus on serious complications caused by this contraceptive implant, primarily device migration that makes removal impossible and increases risks of life-theatening conditions: Alleged News. [6]
The litigation alleges that Merck and its subsidiary Organon failed to adequately warn patients and physicians about the potential for the device to migrate throughout the body, becoming irretrievable; Alleged News. [6]
40% increase in blood clots risk
Additionally, studies have shown that non-oral hormonal contraceptives like Implanon increase the risk of blood clots, including pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, by as much as 40%; Alleged News. [6]
Women whose Implanon devices became irretrievable
In March 2025, a federal judge has reportedly certified a class action lawsuit against Merck & Co. for women whose Implanon devices migrated and became irretrievable, allowing thousands of affected women to join the litigation without filing individual cases; Alleged News. [6]
600 Implanon migration cases
In January 2025, the MDL panel consolidated over 600 Implanon migration cases for pretrial proceedings in New Jersey federal court; Alleged News. [6]
Higher migration risk
In November 2024, new medical research published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology confirmed that the migration risk of Implanon is significantly higher than previously reported, strengthening plaintiffs' claims that Merck concealed the true scope of the problem; Alleged News. [6]
2021 study in British Medical Journal
A 2012 study published in the British Medical Journal found that subcutaneous contraceptives like Implanon have a 40% greater risk of blood clots compared to non-hormonal contraception; Alleged News. [6]
Pregnancies after receiving Implanon implants
In the UK, officials reported that nearly 600 women became pregnant after receiving Implanon implants, raising concerns about effectiveness; Alleged News. [6]
Hundreds of reports of device migration
The FDA has received hundreds of reports of device migration, with some implants found in blood vessels and even the lungs; Alleged News. [6]
Rebrand as Nexplanon
According to the National Center for Health Research, migration issues were serious enough that Merck made major changes to the product, rebranding it as Nexplanon with added barium for better visualization; Alleged News [6]
According to the Implanon lawsuit website, Severe medical complications of Implanon are:
- Device Migration: the implant can move from its insertion site, becoming irretrievable and potentially travelling to blood vessels, lungs, or other body parts, requiring complex surgical procedures for removal
- Blood Clots: increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly
- Cardiovascular Events: Heart attack or stroke resulting from blood clots that travel to the heart or brain
- Vascular and Organ Damage: Damage to blood vessels and surrounding tissues, potentially leading to permanent injury
- Failed Contraception: Unexpected pregnancy, including the risk of dangerous ectopic pregnancies [6]
[1] Reporter Vhahangwele Nemakonde. The Citizen. Friday 31 January 2025, "Contraceptives for school kids, Parental Consent: Implants on offer. Fierce opposition after health MEC suggests plan to tackle teenage pregnancies"; Alleged News
[2] Reporter Ntebatse Masipa. Daily Sun. Watch: MEC pushes contraceptives for pupils; Alleged News
https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/news/watch-ekurhuleni-teenage-pregnancy-rates-drop-implanon-success-20250121
[3] Tackling teenage pregnancy in KZN: discussions on use of Implanon contraceptive at schools; Alleged News
https://www.iol.co.za/mercury/news/tackling-teenage-pregnancy-in-kzn-discussions-on-use-of-implanon-contraceptive-at-schools-74330813-d8b2-4aca-a567-562b3840e971
[4] Curationis vol.44 n.1 Pretoria 2021. Mgobhozi et al., "Women's experiences on the use of Implanon as a contraceptive method in a selected primary healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal
https://scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2223-62792021000100022
[5] Drugs.com. Implanon side effects: generic name etonogestrel, Alleged News
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/implanon-side-effects.html
[6] Implanon Lawsuit
https://www.schmidtandclark.com/implanon-birth-control-implant-lawsuit
Image courtesy of Freepik with CN Whittle
With thanks to The Citizen,snl24.com, iol.co.za, scielo.org.za, drugs.com and schmidtandclark.com
