2006年VOA标准英语-New Contraceptive Device Available for U.S. Wom

By Melinda Smith
Washington, DC
20 July 2006
 
watch Implanon report

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new birth control device for American women.  The device is called Implanon. It already is being used by two and a half million women in 30 other countries. 

----------

Birth control drug, Implanon  
  
Implanon is the size of a matchstick -- almost four centimeters long and shaped like a rod.  The device is inserted under the skin of a woman's upper arm.  Once in place, it releases a low dose of the hormone¹ progestin over a three-year period.

 
Dr. Carolyn Westhoff
  
Dr. Carolyn Westhoff of New York's Columbia University Medical Center says it is 99 percent effective. "More effective than birth control pills and of course easier to use."

Implanon is the first contraceptive device available to American women since Norplant was removed from the market in 2000.  Norplant manufacturer Wyeth Pharmaceuticals² voluntarily withdrew that product when some of the devices failed to contain enough progestin.

Implanon is a smaller device than Norplant and should be easier to place in the patient.

During clinical trials in the United States, six pregnancies³ were detected within two weeks of the drug's removal.  Medical experts were not certain whether the pregnancies occurred before or after the device was taken out. Implanon does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases and does carry a risk of irregular menstrual bleeding.  Smoking while using the contraceptive device is not recommended.  The product may not be as effective in overweight women.

Implanon will be widely available in the United States next year, after doctors are trained how to insert and remove the device.

1 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

2 pharmaceuticals   

n.医药品；药物( pharmaceutical的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the development of new pharmaceuticals 新药的开发
• The companies are pouring trillions of yen into biotechnology research,especially for pharmaceuticals and new seeds. 这些公司将大量资金投入生物工艺学研究，尤其是药品和新种子方面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 pregnancies   

怀孕，妊娠( pregnancy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Since the wartime population needed replenishment, pregnancies were a good sign. 最后一桩倒不失为好现象，战时人口正该补充。
• She's had three pregnancies in four years. 她在四年中怀孕叁次。