Prelates react as FDA OKs contraceptive implants

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certification that contraceptive implants Implanon and Implanon NXT are “nonabortifacients” saddened a Catholic priest and advocates against abortion.

In an interview, Father Melvin Castro said the agency disregarded medical findings saying otherwise. “It is very sad. There are medical studies showing these contraceptives, especially implanon, as abortifacients (inducing abortion through chemical means),” said the former official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Family and Life.

“FDA disregarded these medical findings,” he said.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes expressed hope that medical authorities will continue to demonstrate “scientifically” that most of the contraceptives in the market induce abortion and ruin the health of women.

“Hence, the Supreme Court should keep its TRO (temporary restraining order) and make permanent the prohibition,” he said.

In an advisory released Sunday, the FDA found more than 50 contraceptive products to be non-abortifacient. Included in the list are Implanon and Implanon NXT, the procurement and distribution of which have been halted due to a Supreme Court (SC) TRO.