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General health

Contraceptive implant - experiences? Effectiveness?

15 replies

QoFE · 02/01/2015 20:49

I'm dithering over contraceptive choices atm. I definitely don't want any more children but not quite ready to take the sterilisation plunge yet!

I don't want anything I have to remember. And I don't want any kind of IUD. So that leaves the implant or the injection and out of the two the implant seems like a more convenient option. Slightly worried though as if my periods stop I will panic I'm pregnant which will do my head in, also there was a lot in the media a couple of years ago about very high failure rates?

Anyone got any experience or info that would help me make my mind up? TIA

OP posts:

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a2011x · 02/01/2015 21:30

Hi

I work in a contraception clinic and have one fitted myself, we fit hundreds with lots coming back with irregular bleeding an spotting and hate it and then there's the rest who love it and we don't see for another three years! I have no bleeding which is great for me, no other issues at all! It varies for all but if you don't want a coil the implant is probably the next best thing in my opinion.You never know until you try. Common side effects are irregular bleeding and headaches, which do usually settle after a few months. I would go for it but I'm biased! Injection is known for weight gain and every time we see clients 12 weeks on they have nearly all put on weight every single time, this isn't the case for everyone but weight gain with depo is so common! The problem with injection is once it's injected it's not going to be out of your system for about 14-16 weeks whereas if you don't like the implant you have it removed and you will feel back to normal very quickly, hope you chose the right thing for you.

FinallyHere · 02/01/2015 21:45

Ive had an implant since first reading about it in Cosmo in the early nineties. Had it replaced every (sometimes five, sometimes three years) ever since. No spotting, actually no periods. Well, if im not eating well, i a spot or two round my mouth as a better indication of my cycle.

Apart from waking up a few times in the first few months thinking, aggghhh, I've forgotten to take my pill, no issues from me. Can't recommend it too highly. HTH. xx

Meow75 · 02/01/2015 21:53

I'm on my 3rd one (inserted 14/8/14 - the day before mine & DH's WA!!). I love it. No spotting, bleeding, mood swings, pains or any of the familiar symptoms.

I also had the injection for 8-9 years and I only really moved to the implant because my dr's surgery didn't want me to make an appt an more than 2 weeks in advance BUT getting an appt that close when I work 20 miles from the village where I live, and where the dr's surgery is, was getting to be impossible, so in August 2008 I went implant.

Now just waiting to be considered "old enough" for sterilisation as I've not had children. A friend of mine had her 3rd DC at the age of 27 and was STRONGLY encouraged to be sterilised and said no.

Meanwhile, I'm at the same surgery, 5 years older and BEGGING to be sterilised. No, sorry Meow, you might change your mind.

FFS

debbriana · 02/01/2015 22:16

I loved it. I had one from the age of twenty. My last one I took it out a year before I got pregnant. After my second child am planing on going back to having it.

That was five years menstruation free. Joy.
I didn't have any side effects.

debbriana · 02/01/2015 22:18

It comes with a card to remind you of when to take it out and the name. It's like a bank card which you can slot in your purse with the other cards.

Tigresswoods · 02/01/2015 22:25

I had it. First year or so was fine. Then... Spotting EVERY day plus spotty chin.

I had it out & went back to the pill

I think you'll need to suck it & see.

QoFE · 02/01/2015 22:53

If I try it and hate it, will they just remove it or will it be like my friends experience with the mirena where they fobbed her off for ages?

OP posts:

QoFE · 02/01/2015 22:54

Thank.you all by the way! Sounds promising :)

OP posts:

Cozyhome · 02/01/2015 23:17

Hi are there any ladies reading that are over 40 and take the pill ?
I currently have a copper coil ( chose copper as I didn't want hormones ) however I'll be getting it removed pretty soon due to very heavy periods. I can't bear them any longer........ Thankyou

2kidsintow · 02/01/2015 23:55

I'm 40 and due to having migraine auras I was taken off the combined pill and put on the mini pill. I love it and hate it equally. I love no periods, but hate hate hate the cystic acne that I've never had before trying this pill. I'm at the gp on the 9th to try some other pill as a last chance before giving in on hormonal contraception altogether.,

I can't have the combined pill or depo jab due to the migraines.
I don't want an iud due to reading about them, copper or mirena.
I don't want implants as I think I'd have the same issue with my skin and I remember a friend hating hers. Also, I spotted constantly on the depo so bet I would on the implant too.

Will see what the gp says next week.

AuntieBulgaria · 03/01/2015 00:10

I've had an implant for just under a year having been too forgetful on the pill. It took a good three months to settle down but now it has I also don't have any proper periods, just spotting now and again. No other notable side effects. Works for me.

ImCatbug · 03/01/2015 00:36

I've had the implant for just over a year now. It's been amazing for me!
I have endometriosis so my periods were always very heavy and very painful, but since getting the implant in I haven't had a single period. It's been a lifesaver. I'm no longer stuck curled up in bed crying for a few days every month.
The only bad side effects I've had are slight acne on my face and shoulders (my skin wasn't perfect even before the implant though) and I had mood swings for the first couple of months, though that has settled down now.

a2011x · 05/01/2015 00:08

If you want it removed in the first few months they will try to make you keep it in for at least three months , or suggest putting you on combined pill along side the implant ( you can't have combined pill if you suffer from migraine with aura or have a BMi of over 30) . If you want it out you can have it out , implants really do take up to six months to settle that's why it's best to try and stick with it - but if you want it out you stick to your guns and they will take it out

chloejaynemummy · 06/01/2015 12:37

Don't have the implant it's crap well it was for me I bled everyday pretty much out on loads of weight made me really grumpy and if I did stop bleeding would start again after a few days. Xx

BlueKarou · 06/01/2015 13:26

I had the implant for about 6 months, maybe a bit longer, and had to get it removed. Didn't have any issues with asking for it to be removed, but then I suppose I'd left it in long enough for to have got past any initial teething problems.

Definitely worth trying as it's a very convenient method of contraception if you get on with it. I don't know whether the implant was the problem for me, or whether it was to do with my PCOS - am all a mess hormonally!!!

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