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This bulletin is being sent by the Health Care Authority (HCA) in partnership with the Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP).
Written by Nikeeta Shah, DO, MPH
On February 23, 2026, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a new risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) certification requirement for all clinicians who offer the contraceptive implant Nexplanon. The Nexplanon, or implant, is a safe and commonly used form of long-acting contraception.1 It is a rod-shaped progestin-only contraception that is inserted subdermally into the upper arm. It contains 68 mg of etonogestrel, which is slowly released over time and is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.2
For clinicians, one of the main differences in provision between the Nexplanon and other forms of contraception is the training requirement. As part of the FDA update, all clinicians must now complete a 90-minute online module and attend an in-person training through the pharmaceutical company Organon to be able to insert and remove the Nexplanon. If you completed the training before 2018, you would have had to complete a recertification due to the change in the recommended placement location. If you have not done the recertification, you must redo the online and in-person trainings. The FDA’s REMS certification is a new additional step required subsequent to these trainings.
Learn more about the new FDA REMS requirement on Nexplanon.
References
See RHAP's original post for sources.
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