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Original poster

To ask about your experience of the implant

74 replies

Farcry66 · 18/05/2019 14:29

Hi,

After a recent pregnancy scare (turned out not to be ) It's brought into focus how rubbish I am at taking the pill. I've been on the mini-pill (age and smoking) which has been great, no periods after the first month, mood swings settled after the first month as well. But, I really don't want to get pregnant and I am not very good at remembering to take it so looking for a more long term contraception.

I've searched on here and the posts I can find are from years ago and there was a lot of comments about when the GPS changed from one type of implant to another. So I figured it would make sense to get up to date information.

So .... How has it worked for you? If you were in the mini pill before hand, were the side effects similar (I think it's the same hormone interaction on both)?

Thanks

OP posts:
Greywalls12 · 18/05/2019 17:05

I had it a good few years ago now, but i believe it's the same type that's now given. I bled every two weeks for a week for the whole three years! I wanted it out early but just kept getting told that the bleeding would settle, which it never did!

mintchick · 18/05/2019 17:06

I'm on my third, two years having third one put in since having my twins. Fertility came back very quickly, after removal. although it doesn't suit everyone so guessing I'm one of the lucky ones, no periods no PMT. It's great! You can but try. If it doesn't suit you then you can have it removed and look at other options.

jackstini · 18/05/2019 17:14

I'm on my 4th and wouldn't use anything else
Very minimal bleeding, usually just in the last 6 months of each 3 year period
I did have one put in badly (anesthetic in the wrong place!) but think I was just unlucky
I was on the combined pill before and minimal hormonal issues similar

IgnoranceIsStrength · 18/05/2019 17:21

I had it in for a year and had it removed early. I essentially bled for 300 days out of the 365 (tracked in a diary as the gp wouldnt believe me). So for me it was horrendous. However everyone i know who has had it loves it.

Alaimo · 18/05/2019 17:28

I'm on my second one. Had minimal bleeding during the first one, only towards the end of the three years. With my current one I get a regular period, not sure why. Aside from that I'm pretty happy with it, not noticed any side effects and love not having to remember to take the pill.

redexpat · 18/05/2019 17:33

I was on the pill before, but kept forgetting to take it.
Pros: felt very stable, no mood swings
Cons: i bled every day for 18 months before i had it out again. Having said that a housemate of mine at uni had it and didnt bleed at all.

Blondequeenie · 18/05/2019 17:34

I had the implant in my mid twenties (I am 31 now). Before I got it I had read alot of positive experiences with it so hence why I decided to give it a try but after 10 months I had to have it removed as I had severe side effects:

  1. I just became mentally unstable, I was very emotional all the time. In work I would often find that I could not control stress or stressful customers to the same degree as I once did before. I was always crying in work and getting very upset. I also became very anxious and needy. I remember my parents going on holiday and I was really sad to be left alone without them. Thats not how a 23 year old girl should behave.
  1. I also added a lot of weight and convinced myself I needed cosmetic surgery. Once the implant was removed, I lost over a stone in a short couple of months.
  1. I had periods here and then and in terms of cramps, PMS systems, it was better than normal without the implant but the other systems were to much to handle.

There are other options such as the coil, and an injection you can get but I do not know much about them. I only ever had the implant and when I got it removed, it was the best thing ever for my mental health.

ASqueakingInTheShrubbery · 18/05/2019 17:34

I've had implants since 2006 and will probably stick with them until I no longer need contraception. Periods are unpredictable, which is inconvenient, but they're infrequent, light and virtually painless. No impact on my weight or mood. It may reduce my libido, but I have a stressful job and a young child, so it could equally be attributable to that. When I wanted a baby, I had the implant out and was pregnant in less than a month. I had a new one in after my 6-week check. I only have to go to the doctor once every 3 years, and my implant needs renewing at the same time as my smear is due, so I can usually get both appointments one after the other.

Chwaraeteg · 18/05/2019 17:38

I suffered terrible migraines, sometimes multiple times a week on the implant. It also gave me acne (which I have never suffered from since) , pregnancy symptoms (sore boobs, nausea, MASSIVE weight gain - which fell off me on removal) and made my hair fall out. I think it's fair to say I didn't get on with it. I also found that the area of insertion itched like crazy and every now and again I would move my arm a certain way and it would jab me painfully.

I have the Mirena now which I LOVE! Spotted everyday for 3 months at first though. Now I just get a tiny period every two months or so.

Lyricallie · 18/05/2019 17:39

I'm on my second so had it 5 years now. I love it. Period about once a year, minimal side effects from what I can tell and didn't hurt getting it in or out as long as I dont look haha. I recommend it to everyone to consider.

HavelockVetinari · 18/05/2019 17:48

Absolutely loved mine, no symptoms, no periods, really great. I have lots of friends who've had it and none of them had any side effects bar one who had 2 months of spotting.

BumbleBeeWineGlass · 18/05/2019 18:01

I nearly ended my life when I was on it / I was so low and felt like I was living in a hazy bubble away from everyone else, luckily I called my women's health dr and shrieked down the phone that it had to come out or I was taking a kitchen knife to my arm to remove it, she did remove it an hour later.

I have never been the same since tbh and it also really effected DH and our marriage at how detached I was. Worst mistake I ever made tbh.

BumbleBeeWineGlass · 18/05/2019 18:02

I also gained 3 sone in the year I had it in because I felt like I was starving all the time, painfully hungry.

SherlockSays · 18/05/2019 18:10

Has mine in about 8 months after having DD and I absolutely love it - wish I hadn't spent years messing around with different pills etc.

SherlockSays · 18/05/2019 18:10

I don't have periods anymore either Grin

Dontbeadick · 18/05/2019 18:36

I had it for 6 months. Never again!! I started bleeding about 2 weeks in and it just didn't stop. In the end I had to go on the pill as well as the implant to try and regulate my cycles.

But, if you've been on the mini pill you might not have that problem.

Rtmhwales · 18/05/2019 18:45

I had two, one for three years and one for two. Zero side effects for me. Loved it.

Unfortunately, two years into the second implant's three year term I somehow fell pregnant with DS. So for me it didn't work as intended.

ChipsCheeseAndBeans · 18/05/2019 18:49

I bled almost every day for a year (total of four weeks grace). Had it removed and went on mini pill which took my periods away completely. Which is strange as they are the same hormone.

Samind · 18/05/2019 18:52

Hope everyone's views have helped!

I had extreme mood swings (massive pendulum)
Two bleeds a month
Cried/angry a lot of the month
No libido at all

It really didn't agree with me. Works really well for others though

yogafailure · 18/05/2019 18:55

I must post this every so often on here but it was a bloody nightmare. Bled almost constantly for over a year - ruined clothing, bedding, mattresses and almost my marriage. Ended up threatening to cut the bloody thing out with a kitchen knife as the patronising cow in the family planning clinic told me I needed to go home and think about removing it 🤔 Never ever again.

notmenope · 18/05/2019 19:00

DD had it and hated it. Bled continuously and was so moody. Clinic very reluctant to take it out and made her wait 6 months "to see if things settled". At least if a brand/type of pill doesn't suit, you are in control of taking it. Once the implant is in, you can't get it out quickly!

Thatsnotmyotter · 18/05/2019 19:02

Bled continuously for months on end (had to have it taken out because of this so no idea if/when it would have stopped but it was a good 6 months), and I was fat and depressed. Mini pill makes me virtually suicidal though so I’m really not a good candidate for either.

Thatsnotmyotter · 18/05/2019 19:04

@Dontbeadick It’s not just me then! When I saw the GP for something afterwards we were talking about it and she told her medical student that if you’re still bleeding at 6 weeks there is a 90% Chance it will just continue. I wish someone had mentioned that before 🙄

Ribeebie · 18/05/2019 19:06

I'm an implant fitter and also on my 4th implant. I love mine, so reliable and no worry about have I taken my pill etc. If you have got on well with the mini pill that's it's very likely you will be the same with the implant. If you are one of the 10% of women who get problematic bleeding with it, or any other problems then speak to your GP as there are things they can do to help those things settle. It can take 3-4m for your body to get used to the implant. And if it really doesn't suit you then it can always Ben taken out early and you get immediate return to fertility.

BrillyPribble · 18/05/2019 19:09

I had implanon in years ago and it was awful. Constant bleeding and horrendous mood swings. I had it taken out early after about 9 months.
Since then I also get occasional attacks of bizarre nerve pains in the arm that had the implant in, exactly over the implant site. I presume it's related to the insertion/removal. I had the injection for many years with no issues at all.