I'm getting the contraceptive implant tomorrow

[lonelysleep]

Made the decision as I keep forgetting/missing my Yasmin daily pill (thanks depression!) can you guys reassure me it'll be fine? I'm so scared it will hurt and I'll get an infection and bad side effects.

If you've had it done how was it for you? And how did you feel afterwards?

Thank you, I'm so scared!

I’m at the back end of my third (and currently waiting for my doctor to refer me for removal because they don’t do it anymore). I’m getting married next year and don’t want “permanent” contraception due to wanting a child after the wedding, but I wouldn’t get another one. As a PP said first two were fine, this one has been awful. I’ve piled weight on but absolutely nothing gets it off, spots, hormonal, depression, anxiety. While I can’t guarantee it’s the implant I will be monitoring the next year to see how I am afterwards.
It has been brilliant at preventing pregnancy though, alotugh I have bot all sex drive so it’s hard to get pregnant when you barely have sex

Didn't hurt at all in or out. Worked like a treat, reduced my libido to zero. Never again! Sorry OP!

I had to take it out after 8 months as my body wasn't agreeing with it at all. I was losing hair, my moods were wild and mostly angry, my skin was worse than ever and I had no sex drive whatsoever.

Reduced my sex drive to zero and gave me 3 week long periods every 6-8 weeks.

On the positive side, it didn't hurt to have it implanted.

Have you ever tried the mini pill? Because the effects are supposed to be similar, so if you tolerate one you can usually tolerate the other.

I had one, the insertion was ok you don't feel anything once you've had the local anaesthetic. You do get a good bruise afterwards though.
I had mine out after a year. Had no periods at all, but terrible anxiety on it so watch your moods if you're that way inclined. I also experienced headaches, upset stomachs and numbness in my hands. I wouldn't have it again.

I’m 2 years into my third and I’m quite happy with it. Periods have gone from very heavy over a week (flooding lots from day 2, painful cramps) to very very light but lasting 10-14 days which is not really much of an issue.

I’ve had mine out at the end of the three years and both times I was pregnant within 2 months so it didn’t affect my fertility.

Sex drive does take a nose dive but it’s not terrible. Not too painful getting it put in, the anaesthetics the worst part. Getting it taken out can take a little while with me as it can get embedded. I also have a couple of scars at the insertion/removal sites which will obviously never go away.

I’m quite happy with it and will happily get my fourth next year once this one runs out.

I've been thinking all evening and I've decided (after reading tonnes of reviews online as well as the messages here) not to get it done tomorrow. My moods are already fragile so I don't want to upset them even more and the weight gain scares me as I have anorexia.

I think I'm going to just stick with the Yasmin and ensure I take it on time, my boyfriend and I will still be using condoms too just incase!

Thanks everyone for your experiences :)

@keepingbees I was on the mini pill for 4 years I think, it was okay but I would forget to take it. The implant was like a hellfire version of the mini pill

Hi OP- from what you’ve said I think you’ve made the right decision. Mine killed my sex drive and increased my appetite ten fold, I put on a lot of weight. It really put me off hormonal contraceptives however I’ve recently had the mirena coil which hurt going in but has been great otherwise, apparently it differs to other hormonal contraceptives as the hormones stay within your womb? I think that’s what I was told anyway! The best bit about it is no PMT or appetite increase/weight gain. I’m sorry to hear you have anorexia

@whocaresalot Thank you, I've had it since I was 13 so 7 years now. GP can't refer me for help though as despite my BMI being 16 it's 'not low enough to require treatment'

The coil then may be an option to look into! I guess the pain is only short lived too, glad you found something that works for you, us women really have the short end of the stick with contraception!

Insertion is fine. My periods did get worse, but still manageable and not bad pain. I'm moody, but I've had it since I was 18 so that might just be who I am.

Getting it taken out was much worse for me. However I have seizures when I have blood drawn/ debridement/ injections before and I didn't faint at either insertion or one removal.

@MrsElizabethShelby I think they must've inserted yours wrong?! Surely it's the scratch of the numbing needle and then no pain at all?!

Though I had some bruising

I hated it so much! I had really awful moodswings and depression, I put on weight, I got terrible spots, I was on a near constant period for the best part of a year, with mucky brown discharge the rest of the time. As a PP said, as a contraceptive it’s very effective as the last thing you want is sex.

Took them bloody ages to dig the fucker out when I was eventually given permission to get it removed, I now have a lovely big scar on the inside of my arm.

I’d been on the pill for 12 years before that and wished I’d never made the change.

Honestly, I had three, one after the other for 9 years in total since my early teens. At the time I thought it was great. No periods and no worries.

But since coming off it I feel like a different person. I'm calmer, less irritable, less depressed, less argumentative. I don't withdraw into myself nearly as much as I used to.

I wouldn't get another one. I don't think I'd touch hormonal contraceptive again tbh.

What about the coil? I had it for a few months 10 years ago because I didn't get on with anything hormonal and liked it. It did end up coming out, which can happen if you've not had children before, but I will be having it again when I've had this baby.