March 24 2009: Implanon
Filed under Body
I went to Family Planning Victoria today, and walked out two hours later with an Implanon inserted on the inside of my left arm. This is actually the first semi-permanent contraceptive I’ve ever used – I’ve never been on the contraceptive pill (though I have taken the morning-after pill before), nor Depo-Provera, or anything like that. It’s always been condoms for me and my respective partners, primarily as a result of the sheer variety and number of partners I’ve had in the past (and the increased possibility of STDs).
Some quick facts! The Implanon:
- is inserted under the skin of the upper arm under local anaesthetic, and removed the same way
- can be removed at any time if there are any ill side-effects, but must be removed after three years when it stops being effective
- has a 99.9% success rating when it comes to preventing pregnancy (more effective than the contraceptive pill!)
- has some side effects that include weight gain, headaches, irregular periods and acne
I had considered and researched other birth control options before going into the family planning clinic today, but had decided on Implanon as the best option because: a) I sleep irregular hours all the time, so cannot guarantee that I’ll take the contraceptive pill at the same time every day; b) I have a slight calcium deficiency, and with Depo-Provera being linked to bone loss and osteoporosis, it really wasn’t an option for me; c) an IUD is best used by women who have already had children, which I obviously haven’t.
The low-fuss factor of an Implanon was a huge selling point, as I currently visit the doctor maybe once a year – going regularly to get birth control refills would simply have been a hassle. The aforementioned side effects don’t bother me too much either: I’m good at controlling my weight, I handle pain well, my periods are irregular anyway, and I already have acne. I will of course monitor my body over the next handful of months, to make sure that I react well to the progestin in the Implanon. All I have to do is make a follow-up appointment for two month’s time to make sure that everything is going okay.
And at $5.30AUD for the prescription (student and low-income discount!), it’s a small price to pay for the reassurance that combined with continued use of condoms, I will not get pregnant any time for the next three years. I want children, but just not now (on the bright side, the doctors at the family planning clinic said I shouldn’t have any problems conceiving in the future)!
26 Responses to “Implanon”
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That’s pretty awesome. I wonder if it can affect a person’s blood pressure too. That’s the only reason I’m personally hesitant to take birth control pills… I have a family history of hypertension so I have to be extra careful.
Felisa on March 24 2009 #
The thing about Implanon is that it hurts like a bitch to get out, even for someone with a high pain tolerance, because muscle and fat can grow around, and fuse to it. Still, three years before you have to think about this!
(It also weirds me out just because.. it feels unnatural to have something there. Not that I’d know, I just touched my friend’s. This is everything she’s told me.)
But hoorah for contraception!
Carmen on March 24 2009 #
I’m not in any birth control (except the condoms obviously) at the moment. But obviously I have thought about it. Capsule like Iplanon has been mostly in my mind, but I am bit concerned about the side effects (of this and all hormonal methods). Anyway, I hope it works for you. :)
@Carmen. I assume they use local anaesthesia.
Hanna on March 24 2009 #
I can’t ever take birth controls because of a recent experiment where I was on it for six months and got I-want-to-die migraines ever week and my blood pressure soared from being extremely low to being extremely high. Yeah, bad stuff. So I’m always interested in hearing alternates! This sounds really interesting, unless what Carmen says is true and it hurts like a mother to get it out. D:
Rebee on March 25 2009 #
I don’t like the idea of a chip-like thing being implanted anywhere… too much sci-fi, I suppose. But in all reality, it seems like a rather nifty idea.
Arielle on March 25 2009 #
Thanks to a fairly rigid schedule from college (and a cell phone alarm reminder), I generally take my BC on time. Also, I have a good many pills that I take anyway (antidepressant, vitamins, allergy medicine), so I kind of have a routine. Refilling is a hassle, but basically the parentals pay for it so I used the method they prefer.
I personally am not a fan of condoms, but seeing how I’m in a monogamous relationship, all is good.
Stephanie on March 25 2009 #
The whole concept of implanting something like that into your arm is just fascinating to me. It sounds like it has a lot of advantages! Now I’m wondering why I’ve never heard of it before.
Kaylee on March 25 2009 #
I use the pill. It took a while to find the right brand for me, seeing as some effect mood (depression), weight, hair growth (too much in wrong places), pain during sex, etc. Works pretty well for me. Good luck with yours!
Skye on March 25 2009 #
I have used the contraceptive pills for as long as I can remember, I think I was about 16 when I started. I have to say I always use condoms too just to be safe.
Implanon is a good alternative for the pill when you don’t want the hassle with taking pills etc.
Chans on March 26 2009 #
[...] one particular side-effect that I’ve noticed in the past week of having the Implanon is a distinct inability to properly self-lubricate. Prior to having the Implanon, I’d be able [...]
Jingwen » Blog Archive » Drought Stimulus Package on April 4 2009 #
Hey,
I am 20 and got married on the 11th July 2008. I got the depo injection about two weeks before the wedding. I was on my period when i had the injection. I didn’t have a period again until august which seemed normal but it didn’t stop. I knew irregular bleeding was common for most women while having the injection. Though my bleeding was/is not heavy i still had/have to wear pads. The nurse and doctor advised me to stick it out for a few more injections so my body could get used to it. So i had the 2nd injection. At the end of the 2nd injection(6months) i had had enough of bleeding every day for 5 months so i didn’t go back for my 3rd injection! We went onto condoms.
But i wanted to try the implant as i was worried about getting pregnant. I know condoms are very effective but it still worried me. Some of you may be thinking why didn’t i try the pill… The implant seemed such a convience of not having to think about contraception for 3 years!
About 2 1/2 months after my missed injection i stopped bleeding for the first time in 7 months!! It was so nice! But i had already booked my implant to be inserted on the 27th feb. Maybe i shouldn’t have got it and continued to use condoms or try the pill. On the 26th march i started bleeding again :’( 2 1/2 months later and it hasn’t stopped.
I have read many reviews and comments about the implant and all say pretty much the same thing. I realise women who are not finding any problems with the implant will not search for these sites thus not making any comments.
It will be my first marriage anniversary soon and through all of the year i have been bleeding. Its depressing and upsets me alot sometimes to be honest. I feel dirty sometimes and though its only light bleeding and i take care in cleaning my self before and after sex(sorry if thats too much info) its such a downer. Can’t be as spur of the moment as i would like.
I don’t know how long to keep the implant in as all the comments i have read with women in similar positions as myself don’t seem to be getting any better.
I haven’t tried any prescribed pills to control the bleeding yet but it is something i talk to my doctor or family planning clinic about. I think i will wait until i’ve had it for 6 months to see if anthing changes.
J
J on May 15 2009 #
I just had the implant as the injection was poo… got pregnant… lol. Three babies in three years is enough for me.
The thing is that although I only got it put in last week, I am finding it veryuncomfortable. When I move my arm in certain directions I get a shooting pain up my arm.
Does this go away? Are you familar with the pain I am describing?
Reply: I found that kind of discomfort went away after about a week and a half – I don’t know whether it was because my body just got used to it, or whether it just stopped hurting.
Dale on May 16 2009 #
Carmen,you get local anaesthetic in your arm before implanon is removed, a little bruising and discomfot, but certainly not pain and it is bandaged for 48 hours-for peace of mind and not having to think about contraception for 3 years its not much to have to deal with!!!I am a huge fan and advocate of Implanon and would recommend it to everyone, but as with any hormone based contraceptions, its different with everyone,I do know people who suffered extreme fatigue, depression, migraines and general moodiness with implanon and they got it removed – like i say its different with everyone and as far as I know its not recommended for anyone with history of heart problems in the family
Roisin on July 5 2009 #
[...] due to the Implanon which has been happily residing in my left arm for the past three months. For the first month and a [...]
Jingwen » Blog Archive » Not Menstruating on July 12 2009 #
I had the Implanon Implant in my arm for a year and a half. by then i was ready for it to be out. i was miserable on this implant,
1. i started spotting all the time. literally like every other day
2. i gained 40 pounds in about 4 months. eating like i normailly do but excersizing even more. just kept putting more and more weight on.
3. i started noticeing hair on my stomach and i mean big long black ones, more pubic hair, long black hairs growing under my chin, a full mustache and peach fuzz all over my face.
4. i was having up to 5 migraines a week. so bad that i have gone blind for a couple of hours. I sh*t you not.
5. I was depressed. I was also having severe anxiety attacks.
6. my sex drive completely disappeared.
I am now Implanon free and have been on Spironolactone to reverse the hair growth for about 2 months now. i stopped having to pluck my chin hair and am back to my normal hair free self. I’m back to a couple of migraines a month and enjoy masterbation more than ever. (my boyfriend is locked up) even though because of implanon i am on benzodiazapines, antipsychotics, and antidepressant that also treats my fibre myalga which worsened incredibly while on this
Candice on July 31 2009 #
Has any one experienced arm pain later on after insertion like 2 months later? I am having muscle like arm pain not at the implant site and just wondering if anyone else exprienced the same. Incidently it started a week before my first period since insertion. My are is not swollen, cold, hot nor red just aches alot.
Diane on September 9 2009 #
i have the implanon and it has worked perfect for me i havent had a single period in 1 and a 1/2 years! it hurt so much to get put in though! i think it easily hurt way more the both of my tattoos! does it hurt that much to get out? me and my partner really want to try for a baby but i need to get this out first
christina on October 6 2009 #
[...] – essentially letting them know that I was impressed with the work they do (especially after having had my Implanon done with them), and that I was interested in working for them should any suitable opportunities come up. Last [...]
Jingwen » Blog Archive » A Variety of Career-Related Musings on November 26 2009 #
I just recently had implanon placed in my left arm and things so far *knock on wood* have been going great. Its been a little over a month and it is really nice not to have to take a pill everyday or trying to remember if I took it or not and no contraceptives are nice. I work 60-70 hrs a week and crazy times, so the pill was really a hassle. My boyfriend and I are not ready for kids or any “whoops” so I looked at all my options with my gyno and we agreed on implanon being the best option. The only thing that I have noticed so far while being on Implanon was that my first period was 9 days long (very very light) but I normally only have it for 3-4 days. So that was different, other than a little weight gain (which is most likely due to all the junk food and lack of gym) I haven’t really noticed anything else. *knock on wood*
Cindy on December 25 2009 #
Oo and to add to my comment above- My arm was numbed up with local anaesthesia (lidocane) and I never felt a thing with it being inserted. I had bruising and tenderness for the following 2 weeks, but now I can’t even tell that it is in my arm-unless I push on it, but other than that I have forgotten all about it. My gyno said that it would be the same procedure when removing it. Just numbing it up and bruising and tenderness after.
Cindy on December 25 2009 #
hi i recently got the implanon inserted into my arm after having a termination (havent really had any contaceptive pills…etc just condoms).now im just confused as to whether your meant to use condoms with them? all these comments have left me wondering. is it ok for a man to ejaculate in you when your using the implant…has anyone got pregnant from this… i really dont want to be in that horrible situaton again. please help
tina on January 24 2010 #
Hi Tina and everyone else. To answer you Tina, I wasn’t sure if you were asking about the implanon or pills when asking about the condoms, but I’ve been on both birth control pills and the implanon in the past. Its been a while, but when we were using b/c pills we waited one month to stop using the condoms (we wanted to make sure the pills had set in). With the implanon, I think we waited a week and then stopped using condoms, but I think you can stop using them with the first day or two, we were just being cautious.
I would never recommend the implanon though. I had mine in for a year and just this week had it removed. My periods were so irregular, accompanied much spotting. I was recently able to connect my increased anxiety with the implanon when I reflected on the time line of when my anxiety started to shoot thru the roof. It was pretty much almost to the day of me having the implanon inserted. After having it removed, my spotting stopped two days later, and now I’m not spotting at all. I hope my period comes soon, because I’ve read many stories of women who have not had theirs for atleast a year after removal and the doctors don’t know why. It will take much dedication, but I’m not messing with my body’s hormones again. I’m going to just work on natural family planning, and let my body work naturally. I was really excited about not having a period when I first had the Implanon inserted, but it really wasn’t worth the anxiety and spotting I experiencded, or now getting my body back on schedule.
Y on February 2 2010 #
[...] you may be aware from previous posts, I had an Implanon inserted in my left arm in March last year. For the first nine months, it was [...]
Jingwen » Blog Archive » Doubly Contraceptived on May 13 2010 #
omg!! im getting my implanon inserted today!! im freaking out..i mean does it hurt?? thats the big thing im worried about!
bianca on May 18 2010 #
I have had the implant for two and a half years now and CAN’T WAIT to have it out, apart from the weight gain which I can deal with, I have also experienced increased hair growth which can be embarrassing (I am a generally attractive 23 year old), and having a period every three months is no fun when the pain cripples you for the first three days every time. Definitely not for me ever again
Amy on June 24 2010 #
I got the implant fitted last night and my arm is in agony today! The bandage keeps falling off so she obviously didn’t dress it very well but I’m in so much pain. I have a one year old son and it’s really hard to pick him up! When wil this go ? And how soon can I remove this bandage ?
Sam on July 28 2010 #