The Hague, Jan 12 (IANS) Women in the Netherlands have been advised to remove their breast implants as a precaution because they raise the risk of ruptures and other complications.

Women who had received the faulty PIP or M-implant brand of breast implants, as well as those whose implants have no problems so far were advised to have them removed.

Last week, Germany and the Czech Republic joined the French health ministry in recommending that women should remove their breast implants made by bankrupt French company Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP).

German medical groups said although the implants do not pose any immediate health threat, they do raise the risk of ruptures and other complications, Xinhua reported Wednesday.

The Dutch health organisations emphasized it’s up to the women themselves to make the decision. If they choose to keep their implants, they need a regular check-up.

In the Netherlands, between 1,000 and 1,400 women have PIP implants.