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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think if you're on implanon you cannot get pregnant?

59 replies

ProfCoxWouldGetIt · 23/01/2012 16:08

I have posted in pregancy this morning, but had one response of "POAS".

So would like to know if people know of cases of women falling pregnant while using the implant?

I've had what can best be described as pg symptoms over the last month, and it's really worrying me. I bought a test at lunch time, but will not be able to use it until I get home at 8, and then they say it's best to wait for your morning wee anyway, so please put me out of my misery and let me know what the chances are?

if it makes any difference, I have fallen pregnant while on the pill and the injection in the past (not at the same time of course)

Thanks

OP posts:

Kayano · 23/01/2012 16:10

I thought
Nothing was 100%

EmpireBiscuit · 23/01/2012 16:10

Yes - you could be pregnant.

aldiwhore · 23/01/2012 16:10

Much as I understand your angst, there's only really one solution isn't there?

Nothing's 100%.

Good luck.

Original poster

ProfCoxWouldGetIt · 23/01/2012 16:13

I'm not totally put off by the idea, we were thinking of starting ttc in September, so I guess it could just be an early surprise.

Thanks for the quick responses.

OP posts:

blondie80 · 23/01/2012 16:14

There was something on the news maybe up to a year ago about it not being implanted correctly, somewhere in england resulting in a few hundred pregnancies .

Cyclebump · 23/01/2012 16:16

There was indeed a big scandal last year over incorrectly administered Implanon devices. There were pregnancies as a result.

Good luck!

BetsyBoop · 23/01/2012 16:16

This was in the news about a year ago (I remember it as it hit the headlines the day before I was getting my implant changed:) )

Original poster

ProfCoxWouldGetIt · 23/01/2012 16:18

@ Blondie that rings a bell, but I thought it was something to do with people actually removing them and trying to claim compensation.

One other thing - sorry to drip feed, I was comparing mine to my sister, and hers is a very ridgid little rod in her arm, mine is definitely bendy and very flexible, and makes funny crunching noises if I push against it (yeah I know it makes my skin crawl when it does that) Could it be broken?

OP posts:

JustOneMoreQuestion · 23/01/2012 16:19

I don't think waiting til morning matters so much anymore, with the new advanced tests.
I wouldn't be able to wait!

Good luck, hope things turn out well for you

TeaOneSugar · 23/01/2012 16:19

Mine last one wasn't inserted correctly, but I was assured by the consultant who found and and replaced it, that it didn't make any difference to the effectiveness.

It's 99% effective, so 1 in every 100 users have the chance of pregnancy.

blondie80 · 23/01/2012 16:20

Prof, I've no idea, i don't use it myself, my sis does so when that came out last year in the news she was panicing!

Get it checked with your doc if you think it might be broken.

TeaOneSugar · 23/01/2012 16:21

If it's an implanon implant, I'm on my third and they've all been hard and rigid, it sounds like yours needs checking.

izzybiz · 23/01/2012 16:24

As far as I'm aware implanon has a lower failure rate than being sterilized. If its been inserted correctly its very unlikely that you'd be pregnant. Do the test to put your mind at rest!

sleepyinseattle · 23/01/2012 16:26

Most of the horror stories about pregnancies on Implanon relate to the following factors, according to what I've asked about (my sister is a nurse and I use Implanon):

rod not actually inserted at time of insertion (i.e. still in the chamber - apparently this is simply medical negligence as checks weren't done properly)

users removing them and claiming compensation (my sister had a couple of stories about users removing them - made me feel queasy with one of the stories - I'm not going to repeat it)

users misjudging the amount of time / missing their 3-yearly appointment to get it done (reminder letters going astray, them not remembering - how you'd ever forget such an important date is beyond me though)

My sister assures me that since the media-fuelled stories from a while back about rods travelling in the body or not being inserted, that they've made changes to the applicators / rods. Apparently they now show up on body scans to check if it's travelled, and the applicator clearly shows if the rod is still in the chamber now.

You might be pregnant - mine certainly doesn't make a crunchy sound - it's a very solid rod in my arm - like a little matchstick. You should get yours checked ASAP if you think there's a problem, you don't want any complications there.

Original poster

ProfCoxWouldGetIt · 23/01/2012 16:27

Right test when I get home it is - can't really do it at work without raising a few eye brows, have only just started in a new job, so really don't want to be pg at the moment, but cannot think of any other reason for the big sore boobs, and feeling really sick in the mornings...

OP posts:

sleepyinseattle · 23/01/2012 16:30

I've no idea, i don't use it myself, my sis does so when that came out last year in the news she was panicing!

Yes, I remember the stories- my sister has never worked herself in FP directly (she's a diabetes nurse) but it made her really angry - the media were happy to put the headlines as "implant failure" but the reality was that it was cases of medical negligence (Dr/Nurse hadn't done their job and checked the rod had exited the chamber).

I remember her ranting a few times about how much hard work / time/ money goes into providing solid, unbiased, reliable advice to people, and the Daily Mail can destory all that with a single headline, because the next time a young girl wanting to take responsibility long-term for contraception hears the words" Have you thought about the implant" she'll just remember the headline.. not the facts about it.

NoOnesGoingToEatYourEyes · 23/01/2012 16:30

After a month of symptoms you can probably get an accurate result tonight, couldn't you? Especially with a First Response digital test (positive 1-2 reading at 9pm for me, following some vague fuzzy dots on a cheaper, normal, non-digital test).

Mine doesn't bend or crunch either.

Hope you get the result you want OP.

Original poster

ProfCoxWouldGetIt · 23/01/2012 16:32

Thanks sleepy that's very useful info.

It's definitely in there, but I had a crash on my bike a month or so after it being inserted and I noticed then it was flexible and crunchy

Think I'll need to go see my GP, and get it checked out.

OP posts:

Koshka · 23/01/2012 16:37

I have had the implant for a year now and every few months I get pregnancy symptoms. Especially sore boobs. Never had a +ve test (and I did loads!)

sleepyinseattle · 23/01/2012 16:38

Please do, and good luck I'm on my third rod, and I've never had any issues with it travelling or breaking at all - although I'll admit I've never been in a crash with one! Think they're a modern day miracle - although I know a fair few people don't keep them long term due to weight gain and so on. Thankfully I'm not in that batch.

Original poster

ProfCoxWouldGetIt · 23/01/2012 16:45

I must admit - I've hated mine from day one, so part of my joy at removing it in September was going to be my pressie to myself for my birthday (stupid I know).

I've never had these symptoms before, but I've always had very long lasting heavy bleeds, bad cramping, and awful moods swings, where previously I was having a 3 day period every 6-8 weeks, and it was light and painless. I've had it in for almost 2 years now, but my GP wouldn't put me back on the pill or the injection because I've gotten pregant on both of those before.

OP posts:

StrandedBear · 23/01/2012 16:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

ProfCoxWouldGetIt · 23/01/2012 16:46

just had a quick call with the nurse at my surgery, and she said "Oooh it shouldn't do that, come in and we'll get it checked out" and she suggests a test too...

At least it was a fast response

Thanks everyone for keeping me busy, and stopping me over thinking this and going mad

OP posts:

sleepyinseattle · 23/01/2012 16:54

oh dear! It does sound like you're one of those who can't get on with it well, then. Funnily enough, out of my family and friends who I know to use Implanon, they're split into two camps - "it's amazing" (like me) vs. "worst thing i ever did" (others) e.g. weight gain, irregular bleeding, and so on. Unfortunately that sister I was telling you about is one of the latter - she got hers removed a year in too.

Glad you've got sorted with the GP so speedily!

ChuffMuffin · 23/01/2012 18:24

I've had mine for 2 years this year. When I first got it I was getting all the little "am I pregnant?" niggles, everything smelt really strong, hormones all over the place, boobs felt huge etc. I am still sans baby and it's calmed down a lot. Well except for the hormones PMS style! I just check every now and again that the implant hasn't moved. If it moves it means it was inserted incorrectly and won't provide much protection against pregnancy.

I think now they use a different device now instead of implanon - it's got a different insertion mechanism so there's less chance it can be inserted incorrectly I think.. Implanon was a straight piece of plastic with a fecking huge needle and now they're curved. I had to have the Implanon as my GP hadn't been trained how to do the curved ones, think it began with M?

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