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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the implant has affected my mood all this time?

51 replies

Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 18:18

I’ve had the implant for 2 years. Prior to that had a range of pills etc. with no real problems but wanted something long term/more reliable.

I just don’t feel like I’ve been the same person since I got it put in. But my life has also changed quite a lot, relocation, major job change and relationship with DP (that had started just before I got the implant in). It has been a pretty stressful couple of years for various reasons but I am wondering whether a lot of the sadness, stress, anxiety and irritability I have felt is due to this thing in my arm rather than anything else?

I frequently feel snappy at DP, less able to ‘cope’ with situations (I’ll cry as soon as I am angry/worried), dwelling on things more than usual (although I’ve always been a worrier) and generally less of a ‘positive’ person when I’ve always seen myself as positive.

What makes me think it could be the implant rather than a mood disorder is the fact that I’ll have these sad evenings or fly off the handle at something and once I’ve had a cry or focused on something else it’s like the mood just lifts.

It’s not even like physically I’ve got on great with the implant - I’ve probably spent more time spotting/bleeding that not. My skin is oily and more spotty.

The only thing that has stopped me getting it removed is my massive fear of pregnancy. Although really DP and I are in a good financial situation, we aren’t married (and no urgent plans to be) and I really don’t want to have a baby before I am married. Nothing against those that do, it’s just something i feel quite strongly about. I don’t think I’d be able to enjoy sex as i’d be so paranoid about the condom breaking!!

But would I be sensible to see how I go with getting this thing out of my arm and relying on condoms for a bit?

Has anyone had the same symptoms with this bit of plastic and felt much better once it was out??

OP posts:
TheQueef · 13/10/2019 19:15

I almost stopped in the fast lane of the motorway to have a fight with a lorry driver. I copped on to myself in time but I had actually started to brake.
I threw my DP out because he had stood in dog shit, clothes in yard the lot.
It's bad.

Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 19:16

@stayingaliveisawayoflife and everyone really who got it removed, what contraception do you use now?

I’m just so distrustful of condoms! Really don’t want to mess about taking a pill again. Also don’t want anything invasive like a coil - not yet anyway, maybe post childbirth!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 19:17

@TheQueef nothing as bad as this (so sorry you went through that) but I can see how it happens and I feel irrationally angry about small things more than I used to, for sure.

OP posts:
stayingaliveisawayoflife · 13/10/2019 19:31

I went back on the injection. That worked for me for over ten years but my doc said the implant was the same hormone but I wouldn't need to have it every twelve weeks.

I had three or four periods over ten years on the injection. I really didn't feel I needed to catch up with the implant. I paid to have it removed privately and have the injection on the same day. It was the best £150 I have ever spent.

I found that I had been reacting to everything in an extreme way. My poor husband and class of children really suffered. It and the bleeding stopped as soon as the implant was out.

Campervan69 · 13/10/2019 19:34

I had the exact same reaction
I put up with it for 6 months, then told my doctor who whipped it out there and then.

I was back to normal within a week. So it was definitely that was causing it.

Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 19:34

@stayingaliveisawayoflife I’ve always been wary of the injection due to the reports of weight gain - did you find that at all?

The reactions sounds familiar - I just cry so much and I never used to be a crier.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 19:36

@Campervan69 I really want to see if this is the same for me... just not sure about other options. Sad

OP posts:
Campervan69 · 13/10/2019 19:40

I also did gain weight on it.

We don't use any contraception at all now. I'm hormone free.

PurpleSproutingSomething · 13/10/2019 19:47

I've had nothing but vile mood swings since having mine put in, in May 2018. Within a week of it going in I was hospitalised with a UTI and E coli, which they think came from its insertion.

After reading this thread, I'm definitely going to see if I can get it removed.

Good luck. I have no idea what I'll do for contraception.

Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 19:47

@Campervan69 is that Cos you are TTC?

Sadly no contraception isn’t a choice right now Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 19:48

@PurpleSproutingSomething I think I will do the same. I wish I was in the position where getting pregnant would be ok but it’s not really!!

OP posts:
hopelessatthinkingupusernames · 13/10/2019 19:53

I had mine for 18 months. I wasn’t as bad as some of you but it completely killed my sex drive. I couldn’t even stand dh kissing me. I’d heard a lot of stories of doctors refusing to remove it so I booked into the sexual health clinic and they took it out no bother. Within days I felt back to normal. Relying on condoms for now which isn’t ideal but I don’t want anything hormonal and don’t want a coil so not much choice!

joffreyscoffee · 13/10/2019 20:02

Lasted 10 months with mine, my mood was horrific and don't get me started on my skin.

Had it out in August and I don't feel like much has changed yet, although the hormones are supposedly gone as soon as it's out.

It's a shame, I liked not having to think about it for the next 5 years.

Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 20:05

@hopelessatthinkingupusernames oh yes the sex drive too!!! Although I also think that’s due to the recurrent UTIs as I just dread them - could all be linked though Sad

OP posts:
Ravenrob · 13/10/2019 20:11

We use condoms now, have done for about four years and no problems at all.

1baumederose · 13/10/2019 20:28

I could have written this post a few months ago! It put a real strain on my relationship with DP. I would get so upset and be hysterically crying over a minor issue, very snappy, short tempered- which is not like me at all. I would also, on one day a month, feel that I wanted to split with my (amazing and patient) DP. One day I basically noticed that these ‘hating DP’ days happened on the same day every month- the 16th. That was when I realised that it was definitely the implant causing it.

I got it removed, and felt completely myself again within a few weeks. I have noticed such a difference in myself and my moods. Fear of pregnancy is not a reason to live with this- there are other methods out there. Hope you find a solution that works for you.

Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 20:39

@1baumederose thanks for this - that’s really interesting!! And sounds familiar! Have you gone back to using pills or anything instead?

OP posts:
DisappearingGirl · 13/10/2019 20:40

I know single anecdotes aren't that useful but we've used just condoms for about 10 years with no problems. Both times we stopped in order to TTC, it happened almost immediately.

Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 20:40

@Ravenrob that is good to know!

OP posts:
Skysblue · 13/10/2019 20:42

I know 3 women who had the implant, got clinical depression, got rid of implant, problem cleared up 🤷‍♀️

1baumederose · 13/10/2019 20:50

@Bonheur88 nope, condoms only. I was very distrusting of condoms at first, but I did a lot of research. They are only ineffective if people use them incorrectly- e.g having sex without, then putting condom on halfway through. You also have to be careful of making sure there is no genital contact before the condom is on. If used correctly they are very effective.

SandraOhshair · 13/10/2019 20:54

My close family pointed out how my mood had changed while on both injection and implant.
I now use neither, but am still a miserable bitch 5 years later.....(and fat).

Original poster
Bonheur88 · 13/10/2019 21:00

@1baumederose that is good to know Smile

OP posts:
Velveteenfruitbowl · 13/10/2019 21:04

Hormonal contraceptives are known to effect mood and behaviour. If you suspect it’s doing this to you why are you torturing yourself?

Get it out. Use condoms/copper coil instead. At least that way you will know whether it has been the cause.

NZlife · 13/10/2019 21:06

When I had my implant in it didn't even cross my mind that my awful mood swings could be due to it as I was too focused on how much it was making me bleed & how often.
When I eventually got it taken out (for some reason the drs didn't want to take it out without trying other things first) it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I haven't used hormonal contraception since.