To be thinking about getting implant removed.

[littleme2016]

Just that really as the title says.

Have had implant in for five years and was on the pill for few years before that.

Was mainly on it cos (now ex) boyfriend was paranoid I would get pregnant if we just used condoms and his.mum would kill him.

After a messy breakup, I'm off men for a bit and don't intend on getting involved in anything for a while.

I still get a bleed on the implant but annoyingly it comes and goes as it pleases. I had nothing for a few months and now I've had a bleed on and off from xmas day....I never have any clue where I am in my cycle and I'd just like to get back to normality I think.

I got it inserted at the FPA so its likely that's where I'll get it removed.

Be interested to hear any opinions and also know if I'm likely to be asked any questions by nurse/doctor about why I want it out or if they are likely to talk me into keeping it...

Mrs F I wish I had been informed of the side effects properly. My GP made out it was a fantastic contraceptive and would not impact my life at all. I bled constantly on it. The worst however was the sweating which meant constantly changing my clothes and made me feel horrible. I lasted six long miserable months. He tried to persuade me to have the Mirena coil instead but I said no as I thought the bleeding would probably be just as bad. For me a really unpleasant contraceptive.

mrsFink

You sound highly professional and unfortunately not all clinics or GPs operate this level of care and concern. I just couldn't have stood to bleed any longer than I did though so hats off to you.

Surely if a patient removes their consent to having a foreign object in their body, that's that? What right (and what substantiable justification) has any HCP to refuse to remove it?

I have had my implant in for 8 months and I'm on my second one. First one in for 18 months but oddly rose to the surface of my skin and every time I moved my arm it was uncomfortable so I got it removed.

Getting on ok with it - no weight gain (am losing weight)
Bleeding is a bit random ATM I have had a period for last three months lasting 5 days each time or so so shorter
Slightly hormonal which I know I get anyway so nothing different
I am still liking it and currently it suits my lifestyle (don't want coil and can't trust myself with a pill) so will see how the next 6 months will go

Foot - I've now not had a period in 6 years (on my 2nd Mirena), luffs it I do! My moods are much more stable (no up and down PMS), I'm a bit more tired (that could just be my inherent laziness to be fair), and I get a few spots annoyingly, but I was always prone to spots when I should have grown out of that phase!

The good points more than outweigh the bad for me.
That's how I try to phrase it to my patients - no method is going to be side effect free, we just have to find the one whose good points outweigh the bad for THEM.

If you are interested in the update I just had mine removed. The nurse confirmed a couple of times that I was going to be using condoms instead, asked if I knew about emergency contraception and offered me some free condoms. She also re clarified that my medical history hadn't changed etc but there wasn't any convincing me to get it replaced or get different hormonal contraception. And the removal was much quicker and easier than I anticipated!

I actually was in town this morning during the clinic opening hours and decided to pop in.

Anyway the nurse was really nice, she did ask me if I was planning to become pregnant as the reason for the removal. I explained that I was now single and just wanted things to get back to normal as such. She seemed to understand and be happy enough with that response. She updated my file with reason for remova

So I've booked in for removal on 19th Jan.

My only gripe is they only offer morning appts between 10 and 12:30. Which doesn't help those of us who work but I guess u can't have it all ways!