One of the newest birth control options for women is literally at arm's reach. The Norplant contraceptive, approved by the Food and Drug Administration and marketed since 1992, is implanted just under the skin of the inner arm, right above the elbow. Developed by the Population Council of New York, this birth control alternative is distinctly different from methods previously available.

Norplant consists of a familiar ingredient in a new package. Six silicone rubber capsules about the size of...