What Does The Implant Do To Periods

I Did Not Connect The Depression With The Device Until I Had The Implant Removed

I got an Implanon four years ago, and had it removed a year ago. The reason I got one is because I was anemic and my doctor recommended it to reduce heavy periods. Insertion was easy. At first it made my periods impossible to track, then it settled down. My periods became lighter but this might also be because of my age I put on quite a bit of weight and experienced depression which struck especially just after my period, and went away as soon as I had the device removed. I did not connect the depression with the device until I had the implant removed and experienced a dramatic change in my moods.

I had my implant removed because they wear out after 3 years. I have not replaced it with a different kind. My advice would be: Track your moods carefully. Keep a mood diary. If you notice you are getting depressed and anxious, find a doctor who will listen to you and believe you. My implant definitely made me depressed in a way I had not experienced before.

Implanon is easy to put in, and difficult and painful to take out. The doctor had to dig in my arm for ages. Doctors also didnât want to believe me when I told them my hormonal contraceptive was affecting my mental health.âMasha, female, 46, Cape Town, South Africa

What If I Want To Stop Using The Implant Before Three Years Are Up

You dont have to keep an implant in for three years. If you decide you want to stop using it, see your doctor and ask to have it removed. You will stop being protected against pregnancy immediately after the implant is removed. An implant is designed to be used for three years and is not a short-term method of contraception. If you are not sure you want contraceptive protection for this long, other methods of contraception may be more suitable for you. There is no evidence that there is a delay in return to fertility after the removal of an implant. Over 90% of women will have returned to a normal cycle within 4 6 weeks.

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What To Expect After Getting The Nexplanon

After the numbness in your arm wears off, you may have some soreness for a day or two where the Nexplanon was placed. There may be swelling, bruising, or discoloration in your arm for up to two weeks. Your periods may change. You may have more bleeding, less bleeding, no bleeding, or bleeding between periods.

Are There Any Side Effects

• Your periods will probably change. In the first 3 6 months of use, many women have irregular bleeding. After this most women will have lighter and/ or less frequent periods. Some will have regular monthly periods and some will not bleed at all. These changes are not harmful. However consult your doctor if you are unhappy with your bleeding pattern.
• May be associated with acne.
• Removal may leave a small scar.
• Although research has not shown implants to cause depression or mood changes, some women may experience these symptoms.
• No protection against sexually transmitted infections, so you may also need to use a condom.
• Very rarely an infection or allergic reaction could occur.
• There is no evidence that the Implanon is associated with weight gain.

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What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Implant

How Fast Do They Work

It takes about 7 days for the pill to take full effect. So use extra protection, like condoms, for those first 7 days.

The implant starts working almost immediately if your doctor implants it in the first 5 days of your period. If you and your doctor decide to start Nexplanon in the middle of your cycle, youâll need to use condoms for around a week to be sure youâre protected.

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Where Do I Go To Get A Contraceptive Implant

The contraceptive implant has to be fitted by a specially trained nurse or doctor. This service may be offered at your local GP surgery and, if it is, how to arrange it will probably be explained on their website. Alternatively, a contraception, sexual health or community gynaecology clinic will do this for you. You can find details of services in your area in the UK online.

In the UK the contraceptive implant is free of charge.

All contraceptive services are completely confidential. You will not need an internal examination, a breast examination or a smear before you can have a contraceptive implant. In some cases you may need a pregnancy test to be certain that you are not already pregnant.

What Is The Implant

The contraceptive implant is a small flexible plastic rod that’s placed under the skin in your upper arm by a doctor or nurse. It releases the hormone progestogen into your bloodstream to prevent pregnancy and lasts for 3 years.

The implant does what most contraceptives in the body do thickens mucus around your cervix, thins your uterine lining and also prevents egg release . It’s good to have a check up after the first three months of getting your implant put in, then once a year providing youre not having problems with it.

Here’s some facts about the implant from the NHS website:

• it’s more than 99% effective
• it can be useful for women who can’t use contraception that contains oestrogen
• it’s very useful for women who find it difficult to remember to take a pill at the same time every day.
• the implant can be taken out if you have side effects.
• you can have it removed at any time, and your natural fertility will return very quickly.
• your periods may become irregular, lighter, heavier or longer.
• a common side effect is that your periods stop . It’s not harmful, but you may want to consider this before deciding to have an implant.
• some medicines can make the implant less effective.
• it doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections , so you may need to use condoms as well.

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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.

Myths And Facts About Implants

This page was originally published in 2012 and has since been updated.

Contraceptive implants are thin, small , flexible rods which are implanted under the skin of the upper arm by a doctor or a nurse. They are 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

The implant rods contain progestins which are steadily released into the womans bloodstream. Progestins are like the hormone progesterone, which is produced naturally within a womans body.

The continuous release of progestins stops a woman releasing an egg every month , and thickens the mucus from the cervix , making it difficult for sperm to pass through to the womb and reach an unfertilized egg.

Implants protect against pregnancy soon after as they have been inserted. Depending on the type of implant, they last between 3-5 years, but can be removed at any time. Fertility returns when the implant is removed.

Some women experience side effects form implants. It is common, but not harmful, to experience changes in menstrual bleeding patterns. Other possible side effects include abdominal pain, headaches, breast tenderness and acne. Side-effects often diminish over time, especially after the first few months to a year of use, but if you are concerned about side effects, you should go and talk to your provider.

When fitting the implant, a local anaesthetic is used to numb the area. It makes a small wound in the arm, which is closed with a dressing and does not need stitches.

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Number : Because Of An Abnormal Balance Of Hormones Like Pcos

You may have heard of a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome . This is when the body makes more androgen hormones than it needs, which can cause fluid-filled sacs called cysts to form in the ovaries. These sacs of fluid interfere with ovulation â pretty much they keep the egg from releasing. Women or girls who have PCOS either do not get their period for months on end or have irregular periods.

PCOS is a common reproductive health disorder that affects adolescent girls, and pediatricians often consider it first if they have irregular periods.

Another cause for an abnormal balance of hormones is a thyroid disorder. Your thyroid is a small gland in the shape of a butterfly that sits at the base of the neck. The thyroid produces hormones that can affect menstruation, and if itâs overactive or underactive, that can cause you to miss periods. As you can see, itâs all about those hormone levels.

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Tell The Doctor About All Medical Conditions And Medications

Some pre-existing conditions significantly raise the risk of side effects, so the doctor needs a complete medical history including medical conditions and all prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary supplements being taken. Make sure to tell the healthcare provider about:

• Pregnancy

A healthcare professional may decide Nexplanon is too risky and suggest an alternative form of contraception.

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It Went In Easily Has Caused No Pain And Has Even Lightened My Periods

I got the Nexplanon implant 2 years ago. I was in a long-term relationship that was getting physical and I wanted birth control that didn’t require me to remember to take a pill. My experience has been great! It went in easily, has caused no pain, and has even lightened my periods. It has made period cramps worse, but nothing Midol can’t handle.âAnonymous, female, 36, Washington State, USA

If You’re Unhappy With The Hormonal Contraceptive You Are Takingask About Other Options

I got my first Nexplanon implant in 2012, and had it removed in 2015. I then had a second one of the same brand put in in 2015-2016. I decided to get an implant because I was already limited due to not being able to take estrogen, and had tried the progestin-only pill as well as the injection.

The pill gave me irregular bleeding, sometimes constant bleeding, for months on end, as well as severe nausea. After a year or so I knew I had to look for another contraception method. I had a similar reaction to the progestin injection, minus the nausea, and as I was only a teenager at the time, I found it difficult to remember when I needed to get another injection . I was only offered the implant after expressing to my doctor that I did not want to take the pill.

The insertion was completely pain free . I felt a slight tugging when they are putting it in but no pain. My arm ached for the next few days, and I wasnât able to do any heavy lifting with it, and there was some bruising and tenderness but nothing serious. I experienced some irregular bleeding for the first three-ish months, but it seemed to sort itself out and went from a light monthly period to 100% period free for two years.

If you’re unhappy with any hormonal contraceptive you are taking, always tell your doctor. Do not back down if they try to offer you more of the same, and ask about other optionsâbecause they are there!âGrace, female, 22, England

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Number : Is It Normal To Bleed At All While On Birth Control Pills

The answer is yes scientists designed the pill so youâd bleed during the placebo week. This was the one feature of combined oral contraceptives that scientists let remain unchanged over the decades.

That said, you will probably have unpredictable bleeding patterns during the first few months of taking any birth control method. The National Institutes of Health says that irregular bleeding can happen when you take hormonal birth control like birth control pills or IUDs.

Here are 3 ways to describe how unpredictable periods can be on birth control pills:

• You may have your period on birth control during active pills .

• You may have spotting, also called breakthrough bleeding, during the first few months. Doctors say this is the most common symptom when taking any brand.

• You may have a missed period on birth control. But that doesnât automatically mean your pregnant.

This unpredictability is usually not forever. As your body adjusts to birth control pills, youâll probably just have bleeding during the regularly scheduled programming when you take those âsugar pillsâ that have no hormones in them. But if youâre unsure, itâs always a good idea to check with your health care provider about it.

But get this. Itâs not medically necessary for you to have this scheduled week of bleeding. Weâll explain more later.

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