Does Norplant cause autoimmune diseases?
Autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, systemic lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis occur in the general population and more frequently among women of childbearing age. There have been rare reports of various autoimmune diseases, including those listed above, in Norplant users; however, the rate is significantly less than the rate among the general population of women of reproductive age. While it is believed that the occurrence of autoimmune diseases among Norplant users is coincidental, healthcare providers should be alert to the earliest manifestations of these diseases.
