Costa Rica News – Teel girls who are sexually active will have access to a contraceptive under the skin.
This implant contains the hormone etonogestrel which prevents ovulation and has an effectiveness of 99.9%.
As of now, it’s available in La Cruz and the Brunca and Atlantic regions. It will be available in centers throughout the country by 2020. The device prevents pregnancy for up to three years. Parental consent is not needed to get the implant.
It is available for those up to age 20.
The Costa Rican Social Security Fund has already included it on the Official Drug List. The first 4,000 such implants will be in the country in the next two months. The amount will be adjusted by demand in the different health centers.
14,000 teenage pregnancies occur each year in Costa Rica.
500 of them are to girls under the age of 15. 17% of the births in the country are to mothers between the ages of 10 and 20 years old.
