Nexplanon contraceptive implant

[BringMeTea123]

Hi all,

I'm getting my implant fitted in 2 weeks time. I'm actually super excited to get it and not worry about taking the pill every day.

I saw her write on my notes that It will be nexplanon. However reading up on it today I've not been seeing very nice comments on it .

Anyone who has had this can you please tell me your experiences, good or bad.

I'm prepared to give it a go and I know you have to allow a few months for your body to get used to it.

Thanks x

[BringMeTea123]

Bump

[Monkeybunkey]

I'm on my second one now and wish I'd had one sooner. No periods at all (previously very heavy and painful) apart from a 2-week bleed when I had the first implant put in. Occasional spotting but not enough for a towel. In 18 months when my current implant has been in for 3 years, I'll have it replaced with another. Can't fault it. I've not actually had sex for a year (that's a whole other story, possibly available on the Relationships board...) but have kept it in as I cannot face horrible, heavy periods every 28 days!

[BringMeTea123]

Thank you monkeybunkey it's reassuring to hear a positive story about it after reading lots of negative. I also have very heavy painful periods even after my baby so fingers crossed it'll help too x

[Fitzsimmons]

Well I had a bad experience with it, but I tried it because a good number of my friends had really positive experiences with it. People are more likely to post online if they have negative experiences. Give it a try, it's the only way you will know.

[StinkyMcgrinky]

I had nexplanon fitted in October but had to have it removed in May. I was one of the unlucky ones who bled constantly until it was removed. But I know of three other friends who have the implant and love it. Funnily enough I changed to the injection, which I've only heard bad things about, and have had no negative effects from.

Having it fitted was a piece of cake, absolutely no pain at all. Just a bit tender afterwards, same with removal.

Hope it works ok for you!

[strawberrypenguin]

I literally had my first one fitted 2 days ago so can't tell you how it's working for me but can say that the fitting was no where near as bad as I expected. My arm hurts a little now but is rapidly improving and I don't have a lot of bruising either.

[Timeforabiscuit]

Absolutely fine for me, however get an experienced nurse to put it in (id go to the hospital gum as they do more routinely than the gp) make sure the local is fully working,

Removing hurts more, but nowhere near the same league as the alternative

[OhFuds]

I'm on my 2nd, absolutely no problems or nasty side effects. Removing my 1st one after the 3 years took about 25 mins of digging but I never felt much.

[EyeDrops]

I've had three now and couldn't fault them. I think the first two were actually Implanon but I think Nexplanon is just a newer version; same hormones.

Periods were none or sporadic and light, for the most part. A short phase of a period every fortnight but that soon settled down.

I think they're great!

[sofreakingtired]

I had implanon and then nexplanon for 9 years (three implants) and didn't have a single period or any other kind of reaction/side effect. Bloody loved them! Only got it removed to have our lovely DD!

[ASqueakingInTheShrubbery]

I'm on my 4th or 5th, the first couple were implanon and the others nexplanon. I have very rare, very light periods with no pain. The doctor was very happy to take it out when I wanted to TTC, I was pregnant in less than a month and had a new implant in just after my 6 week check. No impact on mood or weight. I think it might squash my sex drive, but that might just be me/tiredness/having a small child about. I didn't get on with the pill, (mood swings and sore boobs), put on weight with the implant, and don't like the idea of a coil, so it suits me very well, particularly as I only have to think about it or take time off work for a doctor's appointment once every three years.

[BobbinThreadbare123]

I'm on my second Nexplanon. No problems, normal periods for me. Possibly a little lighter than before. Worth giving a try. The doc made a bit of a pig's ear of the removal but it healed ok. I can't have any other forms of contraception as an IBD means I don't absorb the Pill. Bone density issues with the injection.

[cantbefair]

Love mines! No periods for me, sometimes get a bit of cramping but nothing else. Also love how I don't need to remember the pill

[NotAMammy]

Mines made my sex drive almost disappear (it was pretty low anyway,) but other than that it was fantastic. Absolutely no worry about upset stomachs of forgetting to take the pill or broke condoms, and like a pp, periods were much less often and light.
Got it out a couple months ago a I was at the 3 year mark and didn't replace it simply because we are planning on TTC soon. My periods came back within around 5 weeks too.

[IwillrunIwillfly]

I had a nexplanon amd am getting my second fitted on monday. I had no problems with it. A friend had bleeding for a couple of months but settled down amd no probs after. The main difference between implanon and nexplanon is nexplanon has a dye so that it shows up on xray. The good thing about the implant is that no matter how bad the side effects if you have any, when its removed they disappear. Theyre reluctant to remove it too soon after it goes in but ultimately if youre having big problems they can take it out.

[BringMeTea123]

Thank you so much everyone for the replies! I know it may mess up my periods for a couple of months before they settle down but I'm prepared for that. I suppose it's different for everyone and like one poster has said most people are more inclined to write a negative experience. I love that I won t have to remember to take the pill!

I'm a little nervous about the fitting but I've been through childbirth so I'm sure it can't be worse than that lol. I also booked with the GUM clinic and I thought they would be more used to fitting them than the GP (my surgery see a lot of old people) so can't see them doing it very often so trust the clinic x

[NotAMammy]

Haven't been through childbirth but I found it less painful/awkward than a smear. Although my doctor that put it in and took it out does seem quite experienced. It was just the first night, making sure I didn't lie on my arm.

[CanKiFri]

Give it a go and see how it works for you.

I had mine fitted 9 months ago and have to have it removed now as I have never stopped bleeding (sorry if this is gross TMI - but it is constant dark blood clots, not even normal flow). It gave me terrible acne - comparable only to my teen years - in the first 3 months (which only recently has sort-of evened out), and I swear I can feel moods coming on that are not related to anything external. I get irritable for no reason or depressed or even happy if I'm lucky for no reason. The moods feel so artificial, I am weak from bleeding all the time, I get migraines again (which the Dr says are not related to the implant but it's weird that I've not had migraines in 10 years since going off the pill, and yet now I have the implant I get them again?) and I can't wait to get rid of it!

[owlalwaysloveyou]

I had 3 consecutive implants since I was 17.
Pros
I had 1 very light very short bleed the entire time so (technically) saved loads of money, no worries about AF
No pregnancy or 'scares' as according to doctor (although see below before attributing truth to said doctor) it's more effective than sterilisation
No worrying about pill (I'm scary and often have an upset stomach)
I previously had issues around periods with regards to heavy flow, mood dip and migraines which all greatly reduced or disappeared
Care free sex with partner of 10 years as we don't require condoms
Relatively simple to put in and remove. Despite me being wimp it wasn't very painful either as it's just small anaesthetic injection you feel at start then discomfort as it settles

Cons
I put on around 4 stone as I suddenly developed an appetite I'd never had before
My sex drive was greatly reduced although I have only recently attributed this to implant since it was removed
I was repeatedly told menstruation and fertility would return to normal immediately by various professionals but have been TTC for 5 months, only had 2 very odd periods and no ovulation as yet and now being told not to worry as it can take a while to normalise (bit frustrating after visiting family planning at start of year to enquire if I should get implant removed in February to start TTC after wedding in July, told it wasn't at all necessary)
I have suffered with depression most of my life but I do feel an improvement on my mental health since having it removed
Because I put on so much weight from first being put in to being changed they had to dig in my arm and I have scarring on arm

Although my con list outweighs my pros I still am happy I had all 3 as it was certainly right choice for 17-26 year old us!