A senior Bradford doctor has urged women to continue using a contraceptive implant following reports that some users became pregnant.

Dr Anne Connolly, lead GP for sexual health in Bradford and Airedale, said she feared rates of unwanted pregnancies and terminations could rise if women panicked and stopped using the Implanon device.

According to figures reported this week, 584 women have fallen pregnant despite using the Implanon contraceptive implant, which has now been replaced by the manufacturers MSD with an updated version called Nexplanon.

“The point about these implants is they are the most reliable method of contraception available in the UK,” said Dr Connolly.

“A figure of 584 pregnancies is a very small number in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of implants in use in the UK.”

Others reported scarring and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said it had received 1,607 complaints about the implant which is designed to stop a woman getting pregnant for three years by releasing the hormone progesterone into the bloodstream from a tiny tube inserted in the underside of the arm.

Thousands have been fitted in the district by GPs and medical staff and Dr Connolly moved to reassure women it was not only an effective means of contraception, but also safe.

“Implants have been a fabulous method of contraception, particularly for our younger population,” she said.

“We know that over the last few years we have reduced teenage pregnancies and repeat terminations and having a better, more reliable contraceptive such as implants has been a major reason for this.”

She said some women could have been pregnant when the implant was fitted and pregnancy can occur for a week after the implant is fitted.

“The fact is there is not the perfect method, it has not been designed, but this is as perfect as you get, particularly with teenagers,” said Dr Connolly. “It would be a tragedy if something like these reports, being taken out of context, put anyone off using implants.

“We know that when the pill scare happened in 1995 (when it was reported they could cause blood clots) termination rates shot through the roof when women stopped taking it because of the misinformation they were given.

“If anyone has concerns they should visit their GP, attend a local Cash clinic or log on to bash.nhs.uk.”