How Will I Know If Im Pregnant With The Implant In My Arm
On the rare chance that you may become pregnant on the implant, it is recommended that you look out for certain signs and symptoms of pregnancy. Looking out for a change in your period is not a good indicator of pregnancy as one of the side effects of Nexplanon is changes in the menstrual cycle. You may experience tiredness, nausea and tender breasts. If you are concerned you may be pregnant, we recommend taking a pregnancy test before contacting your GP.
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What Are The Side Effects
Bleeding patterns are likely to change:
- periods may be at the normal times, but they may be lighter andless painful
- occasional bleeding may happen without a regular period
- increased bleeding happens sometimes, this can includebleeding more often, heavier bleeding or a combination of this
Many people have no other side effects. Some may experience the following problems:
- Acne may develop, improve or get worse.
- Weight gain can occur over time and is often thought to be caused by the implant, but has not been directly proven.
- Headaches, breast pain and mood changes can occur and may go away after the initial few weeks.
- Bruising and mild soreness at the site of insertion or removal can last up to 2 weeks. A small scar remains.
Occasionally the implant can be difficult to feel or remove and you may need to have an ultrasound to check its position in your arm.
Myth: Infertility And Ectopic Pregnancy
Some women who seek family planning believe that using implants will cause infertility, delay the return of fertility after the implants are removed, or cause ectopic pregnancies .
Fact: Implant doesn’t affect your fertility, and reduces the risk of ectopic pregnancy
Implants stop working once they are removed and their hormones do not remain in the womans body. Implant use does not affect a womans ability to become pregnant, although fertility decreases with a womans age. One major study found that women who have had their implants removed can become pregnant as quickly as women who have stopped using nonhormonal methods.
Implants substantially reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy. In the United States, the rate of ectopic pregnancy among women who are not using a contraceptive method is 650 ectopic pregnancies per 100,000 women per year. The rate of ectopic pregnancy among women using implants is 6 ectopic pregnancies per 100,000 women per year.
Even in the very rare cases when implants fail and pregnancy occurs, the great majority of these pregnancies are not ectopic. Only 10 to 17 of every 100 pregnancies due to the failure of implants are ectopic.
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No Period After Implanon Removal
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Myth: Complications With Method
Some women who seek family planning believe that implants can cause complications in the arm in which they are inserted or that they can travel from the insertion site to other parts of the body.
Fact: Implants cannot travel to other parts of the body
They remain where they are inserted until they are removed. In rare cases, a rod may start to come out of the skin, usually during the first four months since insertion. This typically happens because the implants were not inserted well or because of an infection at the insertion site. If expulsion occurs, the woman should return to the clinic as soon as possible and use a back-up family planning method in the meantime. Providers can replace the rods.
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The Contraceptive Implant Is A Method Of Contraception That Stays In The Upper Arm For Three Years Perfect For Those Who Dont Want To Have To Remember To Take A Daily Pill
But how effective is it, and can you still get pregnant on the implant?
In short, the implant is more than 99% effective. This means that fewer than 1 in 100 women with the implant will get pregnant each year.
There are some other factors to consider when using the implant as contraception such as side effects and its use with other medication.
We answer your most common questions covering the below topics
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What is the contraceptive implant and how does it work?
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When does the contraceptive implant start working?
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Can you get pregnant on the implant and how long does it last?
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I want to get pregnant but still have the implant in my arm! what next?
In Conclusion A Brief Note
As a whole, Nexplanon is an effective and most efficient birth control method that can prevent you from unexpected pregnancy for up to 5 years. No doubt, some side effects such as arm bruising, scars, unusual and irregular blood flow, spotting, vaginal discharge, nausea, and breast tenderness are frustrating. But the efficiency of the implant is worth the mild effect.
Indeed, most of the side effects go away on their own as the body adapts to the Nexplanon chemical release. Other effects go away when you remove the BC implant. Although the period after Nexplanon removal may be annoying, it will also be on track over time.
Light spotting, heavy periods, or constipation can occur after Nexplanon removal, so you should consult your healthcare provider if you have heavier than usual bleeding or any other unusual symptom.
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Why Am I Getting My Period Every Other Week On Nexplanon
Irregular bleeding and inter-menstruation bleeding are commonly experienced by women using Nexplanon. Furthermore, there will be a certain change in the vaginal discharge pattern. Such as, you may experience 2 periods in a month after the removal of Nexplanon.
You may also experience frequent bleeding, heavy period flow, prolonged or intense periods, or amenorrhea.
Weight and stress-like changes in the body are responsible for frequent bleeding during the month, as are hormonal fluctuations.
Nevertheless, irregularities in periods are considered normal after Nexplanon usage. Although the condition is unpleasant, it isnt very serious. If there is a great deal of blood loss during your periods, you should consult a doctor.
If a woman is taking Nexplanon, her provider should counsel her about the changes she could experience in her bleeding pattern.
Related to read: Can Nexplanon Stop Working Early? Heres the Truth!
Heavy Period After Nexplanon Removal
Apart from Nexplanon being an excellent contraception device, there are still some side effects associated with its use. Certainly, if your doctor suggests it, it is likely because he believes it has more benefits for you than risks. Undoubtedly, some women do not experience any adverse reactions to it. However, you should expect some mild side effects.
According to a study, irregularity in vaginal bleeding is the highly noticed side effect of the Nexplanon procedure. Certainly, your periods can be late or early, lighter or heavier, longer or shorter than normal. Also, you can experience some intermenstrual spotting. Particularly, it is more discovered in the few months of Nexplanon removal.
Although signs are mild, some may experience deadly complications after implant or removal. For instance, some women experience heavy bleeding with pain after Nexplanon removal and sudden weight gain or loss.
Anyhow, if you have prolonged or unusually heavy bleeding, you should seek medical attention and request some medication to restore the blood flow. Moreover, if you have missed two periods in a row, you must test for pregnancy.
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What Are The Risks Associated With The Implant And Who Should Avoid It
Being a progestogen only contraceptive method, the implant has the advantage of being able to be used in conditions where oestrogen needs to be avoided, including when someone is breastfeeding, and in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. However, there are certain conditions where the implant is contraindicated, or better avoided due to the health risks it presents outweighing its benefits.
For example, the implant is not recommended if you have unexplained vaginal bleeding as the menstrual irregularities it causes may mask the symptoms of an underlying condition.9 You should also avoid the implant if you have breast cancer, as it can affect the prognosis due to the cancer being hormonally sensitive.10
Although there is no definitive evidence concluding that the implant increases the risk of blood clots, it is not recommended in those who have had a stroke, are at increased risk of having a stroke, or who have ischaemic heart disease.11
Progestogen is metabolised in the liver, so needs to be avoided in conditions with altered liver functions, such as severe cirrhosis and certain liver tumours, as the efficacy of the implant will be affected. Also, drugs which induce enzymes such as anti-epileptics, rifampicin, and griseofulvin may lead to lower progesterone concentration in the blood, causing contraceptive failure.
Pregnancy After Nexplanon Removal
Each womans fertility returns at her own pace after Nexplanon removal. As for Nexplanons effect on pregnancy, it wont affect womens fertility after it is removed.
Once it has been removed, a woman will normally conceive again. Certainly, this allows her to become pregnant whenever she wants to!
However, at age 25, the chances of getting pregnant slowly decrease. Moreover, irregular periods and poor health could also decrease fertility.
Therefore, if you are trying to get pregnant but cannot, you may have grown older, decreasing your fertility. Anyhow, good strategies can still help you become pregnant.
Nevertheless, if you get your implant removed and dont want to become pregnant, you can still use another birth control.
Related to read: How Birth Control Can Affect Different Women in Different Ways?
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Does Nexplanon Lose Effectiveness Over Time
Nexplanon prevents pregnancy by continually releasing a low dose of progestin over a three-year period. The amount of progestin released slowly decreases over time. By the end of the third year, the dose released is too small to prevent pregnancy, which is why the implant must be removed at that time.
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.
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How Does Implanon Work
Like many contraceptive devices, Implanon works by a combination of factors. It prevents ovulation so that there is no egg to be fertilised in the first place. It makes the lining of the uterus thin and not suitable for a fertilised egg to nestle in, as well as thickening the cervical mucous. This acts as an effective barrier for the sperm to work their way through to the uterus.
How Is It Inserted
An area on the inner arm above the elbow is first numbed with local anaesthetic. Then the doctor or nurse puts the implant under the skin. After the implant is inserted, a band aid or dressing is put on which should stay on for 3-5 days. The arm is bandaged to reduce bruising and this should be left on for 24 hours.
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How Soon Do You Ovulate After Nexplanon Removal
Typically, Nexplanon suppresses ovulation and is implanted for 3 years. But you can remove it anytime when you are planning to get pregnant. Fertility and ovulation normally resume normal as soon as they are removed, that is, within a month. Most women have normal reproductive and menstrual cycles 3 months after Nexplanon removal.
When Will Regular Periods Resume
The length of time it takes for periods to resume varies from person to person based on a number of factors. Stress, exercise, body weight, and overall health can all influence when periods will return and how regular they will be.
In the absence of another health condition, though, normal fertility – including regular ovulation and periods usually resumes within 3 months.
A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis of people who stopped using hormonal contraceptives in order to conceive found that 83.1% were pregnant after 1 year.
This suggests that for most people, fertility and periods return to normal within the space of 1 year, and often sooner than this.
Other causes for late periods after stopping birth control include:
- some chronic health conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease
Even if pregnancy seems unlikely, it is worth getting a pregnancy test. With typical use, about 7% of people using birth control pills, patches, or rings will become pregnant. After stopping birth control, the risk immediately becomes higher, even if someone is not yet experiencing regular periods.
Additionally, spotting is common early in pregnancy, so light or irregular bleeding does not mean a person is not pregnant.
People who miss their periods should consider regularly testing for pregnancy until periods return.
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Combination Birth Control Methods
Combination birth control methods include combination birth control pills, NuvaRing, and the patch. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there about these methods.
You may have heard it takes at least three months for ovulation to start up again after you stop the pill. This is not usually true. For most people, ovulation will start within weeks. For some, though, it can take one to three months.
Think about it like this: The pill works because it stops ovulation. If you miss a couple of pills, you might ovulate and you might get pregnant. Some healthcare providers even say you are most fertile just after you stop taking the pill.
So where does the three-month myth come from? Your healthcare provider may tell you to use a condom until you have had three periods. This is just because waiting will help you keep track of your cycle. That way, if you get pregnant, it will be easier to guess when the pregnancy happened.
There is no medical reason to wait after you stop birth control before trying to become pregnant. Just be prepared that your fertility may return within the first month.
NuvaRing and the Patch work the same way as the pill, so the same goes for these methods. Fertility should return quickly. Most research shows that 80% of people who stop using these methods and want to get pregnant will get pregnant within the first year. This number is the same as that of the general population.
My Insurance Was Running Out And I Didnt Want To Risk Not Having Birth Control
I got the Nexplanon implant in October of 2016. I was 25 and had it in for around a year and a half. At the time, my insurance through my parents was running out and I didnât have a full-time job. I didnât want to risk not having birth control if I didnât get a full time job, so I got the implant to be on the safe side. Not because I wanted to. I loved the pill I was on.
Getting it in wasnât bad because the area was numbed, but there was pain in my arm afterwards, which lasted for a few daysâlike someone punched me really hard in the arm. There werenât any mood swings, but there was HORRIBLE acne. I always had almost perfect skin before, then I started to break out every other day, and nothing cleared it up. My period was completely irregular too. I would bleed for three to four months straight, then not get a period for three months, and then it would be back for months again. It was horrible. My period was light most months, but I use a cup exclusively so things got sore inserting a cup every day for months on a light flow. I had to switch back to pads/liners, and I hated using them again.
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If Youre Under 16 Years Old
Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of 16.
If youre under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist wont tell your parents as long as they believe you fully understand the information youre given, and your decisions.
Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under 16. Theyll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they wont make you.
The only time a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe youre at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first.
Page last reviewed: 9 March 2021 Next review due: 9 March 2024
Fertility Does Not Equal Pregnancy
You may not get pregnant right away even after your fertility returns. Some people become pregnant within a month. Others may try to get pregnant for a long time.
At this point, your ability to get pregnant has nothing to do with previous birth control use. Your age, health, and lifestyle can all make it harder to get pregnant. You may also experience infertility.
You may have concerns after you stop birth control. Talk to your healthcare provider if:
- Your period doesnt come back after three months
- The number of days you have your period changes
- Your cycle is irregular
- There is a major change in how heavy your bleeding is
- You are younger than 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for 12 months
- You are over 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for six months
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