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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Any Good experiences on contraceptive implants??

17 replies

cantseemyfeet · 30/08/2007 00:34

Am wanting to be sterilised but because the waiting list is so long I have been advised to look at other contraception until then. Thanks to the pill I have my lovely little boy (it didnt work) and am not keen on coil. Midwife told me that the implants are quite popular now and after reading the leaflet on them I am considering using it. Has anyone else had these implants put in their arms and if so have they been ok or have they had a lot of side effects??

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battlestar · 30/08/2007 00:36

i shall watch this thread with interest.
i was of the possibly mistakenbelief that these implant s were no longer popular.

expatinscotland · 30/08/2007 00:48

Am considering sterilisation myself. Hoping/waiting till the 'ensure' vaginal procedure becomes more widespread.

I can't use Implanon. Been ruled out for me based on history of depression.

jofeb04 · 30/08/2007 08:46

I have got the implant, and have had no problems with it.

AnguaVonUberwald · 30/08/2007 08:55

I had PMT from hell, for about 3 weeks a month, hated, and then there was a waiting list to have it taken out.

Would advise not having it unless you can get some guarantees on how quickly they will take it out if necessary.

Fingerbobs · 30/08/2007 11:30

I was absolutely fine on it for two years - had a bit of random bleeding for about six months but nothing too bad, and then no bleeding at all, no symptoms, nowt (and got it removed about a week after I asked for it to be removed, and then got pregnant a month later). All good, as far as I was concerned. Some friends suggest you put on weight but I stopped smoking and still managed - with quite a lot of very very slow running - to lose some, so it's not inevitable.

Rochwen · 30/08/2007 14:42

I've had IMPLANON inplanted one and a half years ago and it works fine for me. I couln't take the combined pill because it gave me horrendous migraenes. Even the four kinds of mini-pills I tried gave me mild migraenes. I can't use the coil as I get very heavy periods and horrendous cramps so Implanon was suggested to me. A week after I had it implanted I had a continuous migraene for about 5 days and thought I was gonna die but then it passed and I have only had a couple of mild episodes since. So in terms of migraenes Implanon works really well for me. Alos, my periods have stopped completely which I think is fabulous and I only have very mild PMT now. However, there are couple of sideeffects for me. My lidido has completely, I mean completely, dissapeared which is a huge problem for hubby and I feel I have to force myself to have sex, which is awful. Also I seem to have totally 'dried' up which makes me even less likely to want to have sex. The other not so great side effect is that I do feel a wee bit blue occasionally whereas I used to be a very bubbly person. Weightwise it's been no different to the mini-pill. Even with the sideeffects it's the best form of contraception I have found for myself sofar, better than pills, coils and safer than condoms. Of course if I could get hubby to get a vasectomy that would be ideal, but there's simply no way.

harleyd · 30/08/2007 14:47

i had implanon put in a few weeks after having dc4. i had it in for the grand total of 4 days before i demanded the doc take it out. it really freaked me out the whole time because i could feel it in my arm. def wasnt for me

harleyd · 30/08/2007 14:48

soz, just read the title and realised it said good experiences

Rochwen · 30/08/2007 14:51

I don't mind feeling it in my arm or even seeing it but it is a good shocker to friends. I've had lots of great fun with it.

harleyd · 30/08/2007 14:53

my arm was obv swollen at first and when i moved it it felt like it was going to pierce through my skin - i assumes this goes once the swelling subsides?

Rochwen · 30/08/2007 15:00

mine still feels like it's going through pierce through my skin but it doesn't hurt anymore and the dr said that it's never going trhough the skin because it's covered by three layers of skin. I never feel it except when it rains, no idea why.

Albsmum · 30/08/2007 15:11

I had mine put in my arm 10 months ago (4 weeks after the little one was born !). From memory it's a bit painful for the first week or so (felt like something was stabbing me in the arm every now and again), but that disappeared. I have no problems at all on it really. My periods are rather eratic, whereas previously, they used to last 3 days, now they turn up about every 8 weeks or so (this does vary) and last about 10 days (sometimes 2 weeks !!)- but then sometimes, I get 10 weeks in between - so can't complain too much. I've also put on a bit of weight - but I don't really think that's down to the implant. I think it might be wine, chocolate eclairs and sweets !!

Original poster

cantseemyfeet · 30/08/2007 22:40

Thanks Guys,

I suppose it is a bit hit and miss as to whether it suits you or not. Ive heard more or less the same reports on the depo injection too, but thought implant would be better because it lasts for 3 years. I think I will give it a go, it has to be better than finding out I am pregnant!!

OP posts:

Rochwen · 01/09/2007 10:46

the real pro about the implant is that it is one of the most effective birthcontril on the market as there is no chance of user error and it really only uses a very low dose of the hormone in comparison to the pill because you have a constant level of the hormone instead of highs and lows with the pill (high after you've just taken it and low just before you have to take it again).

grouchyoscar · 01/09/2007 11:15

Can I be a bit obvious on this one?

If this has been posted in the 'Childbirth' section I would assume that the implants are not so good

Sorry being facetious there.

A few years ago (over 5 really)I spoke to my GP about the implants and she strongly advised me against it. She went through the various pros and cons of them and we decided con was more accurate for me. A short time later, DH's PA had them and them 'moved' out of position under her skin and the removal was quite intrusive.

I also feel that my family is complete but I'm not quite sure if I want steralisation (IYKWIM) On FPC advice, I now have a coil (copper not hormonal) and I've not had any difficulty tbh.

izzybiz · 03/09/2007 20:56

I have had mine for 3 years now, its due to be removed in a couple of weeks.

From the day i had it put in ive never been able to feel it unless i touch it iykwim.

For the first 2-3 months i had a lot of breakthrough bleeding and headaches, you need to give it a good few months for it to settle down.

Since then i have had no problems whatsoever, i have also heard that inserted properly it has a higher success rate than sterilization.

There are quite a few good websites with all the info you need to make your choice, i wouldnt be put off by horror stories to be honest.

Original poster

cantseemyfeet · 04/09/2007 23:54

I had heard it was the most effective contraception there is which is why I have been looking into having it.
I know the first type of implants that were introduced a few years ago have been changed, they were 4 or 5 implants that were put in your arm and there was a lot of horror stories about some of the rods breaking of in your arm and having to be dug out.
The newer ones seem to be better and after reading up on them I really think I will go for it, I just wanted to hear stories from "real" people instead of looking at stats on them.
Thanks for all the replies, I was kinda weighing up wether to have the implants or the injections but I have heard more horror stories on the depo jabs than the implants so think I will go for them.

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