What Are The Risks Of A Birth Control Implant
You may have an allergic reaction to the implant. The implant may be inserted in the wrong area or too deep and may need to be removed. You may become pregnant if the implant is not placed correctly. You may have pain, numbness, bruising, or bleeding at the site. You may get an infection. You may have changes to your monthly period, such as how long and how much you bleed. Your period may stop. You may have headaches, mood changes, acne, breast pain, abdominal discomfort, and some weight gain. You may also be at increased risk for a blood clot. A birth control implant does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Certain medicines can prevent the implant from working correctly.
Is The Birth Control Implant Right For Me
The implant is a great option for women who want long-acting, reversible birth control that they dont need to think about every day, Dr. Brant says. Unlike the IUD, it doesnt require a pelvic exam or vaginal procedure, which is a plus for many women.
The implant can also be used immediately after giving birth and while breastfeeding, making it a good choice for moms who have their hands full.
So while you can certainly keep chanting NOBABYNOBABY, you can also rest assured that with a birth control implant, youre in good hands.
How Does The Implant Work
The birth control implant is a tiny, thin rod about the size of a matchstick. Its also called Nexplanon and theres a slightly older version called Implanon. A doctor inserts the implant under the skin of your upper arm. It releases the hormone progestin to stop you from getting pregnant.
The hormones in the birth control implant prevent pregnancy in two ways:
-
Progestin thickens the mucus on your cervix, which stops sperm from swimming through to your egg. When sperm cant meet up with an egg, pregnancy cant happen.
-
Progestin can also stop eggs from leaving your ovaries , so theres no egg to fertilize. When eggs arent released, you cant get pregnant.
One of the awesome things about the implant is that it lasts for a long time up to 5 years but its not permanent. If you decide you want to get pregnant or you just dont want to have your implant anymore, your doctor can take it out. Youre able to get pregnant quickly after the implant is removed. You can keep track of your insertion and removal dates using our birth control app.
You May Like: New Hire 90 Day-probationary Period Template
What Are The Nexplanon Side Effects After Removal
Any time theres a change in your hormones like when you go on or off hormonal birth control such as the implant theres a chance of temporary side effects. But they usually go away after a few months.
When you go off the implant, your body will eventually return to the way it was before you went on it. So if you stopped getting your period on the implant, your period will eventually come back after the implant is out. It can also take a few months for your period to go back to the cycle you had before you got the implant .
Everyones body is different, and our bodies also change over time. So theres no way to know exactly how your body will react to going off the implant. But any negative side effects that you may have will go away within a few months as your body gets used to being off the hormones.
Another important thing to note: you can get pregnant right away once the implant is out of your body . So if you stop using the implant but you dont want to get pregnant, make sure to use another birth control method.
If youre really worried about the side effects of going off the implant, talk with your nurse or doctor. They may be able to give you more specific information about what to expect based on your personal medical history.
Does Starting On Birth Control During Your Period Stop Your Flow Immediately
One question experts get asked a lot is: If I start birth control on my period, will it stop? If taken correctly, there isnt one birth control method that is guaranteed to stop your period at all, let alone immediately. There are some cases where birth control can stop heavy bleeding, though, Lucky Sekhon, MD, ob-gyn and endocrinologist at RMA of New York and assistant clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, tells SELF, but it must be done under the direction of a doctor.
Back to top
Also Check: 90 Day Employment Probationary Period Template
How Is The Contraceptive Implant Taken Out
The implant can be left in the arm for 3 years. The implant can be taken out earlier if you want to get pregnant or if you don’t want to use this type of contraception anymore. The implant is taken out:
- under local anaesthetic
The implant must be taken out 3 years after it was put in. If you want another implant a new implant can be put in the same arm immediately after the old one is removed. Your periods will go back to normal soon after the implant is taken out. If you do not want to get pregnant you need to use another method of contraception as soon as the implant is removed.
Multiple Birth Control Methods At Once
Most women either use the pill or an IUD. But if you switch from the pill to a hormonal IUD, you should use both methods together for up to 7 days after you get the IUD. You donât need to do this if you get the copper IUD because it starts working right away.
If you go from the hormonal or copper IUD to the birth control pill, youâll need to start the pill 7 days before your doctor removes the IUD.
Also Check: Dark Brown Discharge Instead Of Period
Listen To Your Body If Something Doesnt Feel Right Speak Up
I got the Nexplanon implant in 2015 and had it removed around nine or ten months later.The birth control pills I was taking triggered migraines, and the birth control shot had a lot of unpleasant side effects. Also, I loved the idea of not having a period each month.
The insertion process was simple, and I didnât find it painful. Unfortunately, I experienced several unpleasant side effects. I would bleed for about three weeks of every month, I gained quite a bit of weight, and had extreme mood swings.
I had the implant removed because of all of the negative side effects I was experiencing. The removal process was more tricky in my case than the insertion. It had migrated, and my doctor had difficulty removing the implant.
The implant did not work for me, but I have friends who have the same implant and they love it. If youâre interested, go ahead and try it. But listen to your body. If something doesnât feel right, speak up. I kept the implant in for far too long because I kept waiting for it work for me the way it was supposed to. I should have had it removed months earlier than I did.âMorgan, female, 32, Springfield, Missouri USA
How Is The Nexplanon Implant Removed
To remove the implant, your healthcare provider will similarly sterilize and use a local anesthetic before making a small incision on your arm near one end of the implant. They will then take out the device with forceps . If youre getting a new implant to replace the old one at the end of its three-year period, the insertion will take place right after removal.
Don’t Miss: Period Blood Stains On Sheets
What Should I Do If I Get Frequent Or Heavy Bleeding
Irregular bleeding is a common side effect and will usually settle down within 3 months. Whatever your bleeding pattern, the implant is still effective.
If the bleeding does not settle or you are unhappy with the bleeding you can see a doctor for medications that can help with this. You dont have to wait until 3 months to do this.
So Whats The Problem Exactly
Periods like this may be dysmenorrheaa fancy medical term for pain with menstruation. There are several possible causes of severe period pain, some of which have special treatment options.
-
The cells from the lining of the uterus may be growing into the muscles of the uterus or on other organs in the body .
-
The muscle of the uterus may be growing fibroids.
-
The uterus may be releasing too much of a substance called prostaglandins, causing its muscles to contract irregularly and leading to big-time pain.
The good news is that you dont have to put up with this pain! If youre having abnormally bad periods, talk to your health care provider about what might be causing the pain and how to treat it. There are a few things you can do to make your periods less painful, shorter, or go away altogether.
Read Also: How To Relieve Period Cramps Naturally
Don’t Miss: Brown Stuff Instead Of Period
How Do No Period Birth Control Pills Work
Planned Parenthood, an advocacy group, says that combination birth control pill packs tend to come with 21 active pills and 7 placebo pills. That means youll take hormone-containing pills for 3 weeks and placebo pills for the final week each month.
That final week is when youd traditionally have withdrawal bleeding. But if you carry on taking the hormone-containing or active pills continually, youll skip the bleeding part.
Why? Because the drop in hormones triggers the body to release blood and mucus from the uterus lining. This is similar to a regular period, except the uterus lining doesnt thicken each month.
If theres no change in hormone levels, 2008 research shows that the body will continue as it is. However, spotting, or light bleeding, can still occur in some people.
While you can opt for an extended or continuous schedule with any combination pill, some pills also have few or no placebo options.
And these options are specifically designed for fewer or zero periods.
Is It Bad To Take Birth Control To Stop Your Period
If youve been paying attention, you may already have an idea of the answer to this question.
Really speaking, isnt at all necessary for women to have a withdrawal period while on hormonal birth control. According to Vox, the reason for withdrawal periods is because a scientist who helped develop the pill, developed it that way to make it seem more natural.
So, is it bad to take birth control to stop your period? Not at all. In fact, its fairly safe! According to ARHP, there is no evidence that shows women need monthly withdrawal bleeding, and no health problems are linked to skipping or eliminating bleeding.
The advantages of skipping your period would, of course, involve avoiding most of the issues that come with your period. So, you can say bye, bye to those horrible cramps, bleeding, and PMS symptoms!
The only downside, according to ARHP, is that you may experience spotting or breakthrough bleeding in your first few months of using birth control to stop your period. If you ever experience any concerning side effects like severe aches in your abdomen, chest, or legs, as well as vision changes or heavy bleeding, be sure to contact your doctor right away.
Recommended Reading: 90 Day Probationary Period Letter
How To Stop Your Period With Birth Control
If you could do without bleeding from your vagina every month, you should know that there are ways to potentially stop your period with birth control. Theres no medical reason why you need to get a monthly period, Lauren Streicher, M.D., a professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, tells SELF. You can suppress your period for years and years without a problem.
Sure, some people view a period as monthly reassurance that theyre not pregnant or as a way to connect with their bodies. But if thats not you, and you just want to stop your period, the good news is that birth control might be able to help you out.
How Do I Get An Implant
For a few women, the medications they’re taking mean the implant may not be right for them.
Watch our video to see if the implant is right for you.
Recommended Reading: 90 Day Probationary Period Policy Examples
Advantages Of The Birth Control Patch
Patches can be a good option if you want effective and long-term birth control that you can quit easily. Because the patch provides a daily dose of estrogen and progesterone, the patch may have other possible health benefits:
- Lighter periods less blood and cramping
- More predictable periods they start promptly about every 28 days
- Less anemia due to blood loss
- Less chance of ovarian cysts, certain cancers, and other illnesses
First Is It Safe To Skip Your Period
The short answer is, yes, you can safely skip your period by either ditching the placebo week and going directly to a new pack of pills, ring, or patch. Some people may naturally just stop getting their period over time while using certain forms of birth control.
The long answer, however, is a bit more involved. First, the period you get on hormonal birth control is not even really your period, its actually withdrawal bleeding, according to the Mayo Clinic. During a menstrual cycle without hormonal birth control, your endometrial lining thickens in anticipation of an embryo implanting. If pregnancy does not occur, your body sheds this lining, and you get your period. Since hormonal birth control works by suppressing ovulation , theres nothing extra to shed if you dont become pregnant. The bleeding is simply your bodys response to stopping the hormones.
Back to top
You May Like: Donating Blood While Menstruating
I Like Having The Extra Backup On The Contraceptive Side Of Things
I got a Nexplanon implant two years ago, mainly to stop having periods but I also moved in with my partner full time, so I decided to get some method of round-the-clock contraceptive too.
My experience has been fine. Insertion was very quick. The doctor talked me through what was happening. I had a small dose of localised anesthetic before hand, then she used what looked like a piercing gun to insert the implant and I didnât feel any pain. I kept it bandaged for a day or two afterwards. Now I have a small scar on the point of insertion, but I do scar easily. I had some light bleeding but no pain like I used to . After the insertion I didnât have a period for about 8 months, then I bled lightly for about 3 days, then it stopped again for another 8 months.
I plan on sticking with the implant. For me, it has been useful in stopping periods, and I like having the extra backup on the contraceptive side of things.âAnonymous, female, 20, Sheffield, UK
We at Clue recommend that you see a healthcare provider to discuss which birth control is best for you, and let them know if you are experiencing any negative side effects.