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Original poster

Implanon removal - fertility does not necessarily return?

7 replies

JoannaStayton · 20/07/2018 16:35

Hello.

My GP and plenty of information sources online claim that fertility returns instantly once the implant is removed. Indeed, there are plenty of examples of people getting pregnant very quickly so it's certainly possible.

I had my implant out 2 months ago and have no period for 3 months now. I have spoken to a fertility clinic who said because I had the implant in for around 12 years it may be 6 months to 2 years before my periods return. There are plenty of other people online saying they did not get their periods back immediately after implanon removal as well. This is very bad news for me as I'm 38 and have only just managed to get into a suitable life situation to have a baby and I'm desperate to move quickly. I don't know whether I am experiencing early menopause or whether the problems are down to implanon.

Has anyone else had experience with a long break in periods after implanon removal and then getting pregnant? Did you have the implant in for a long time?

I'm really incredibly upset because I wouldn't have had the last one put in if the GP hadn't told me that fertility returns immediately.

I hope the message can get out that implanon removal doesn't mean you are instantly back to fertility.

If anyone has been in a similar situation or has advice that would be really appreciated.

x

OP posts:
NotAllIndividuals · 20/07/2018 16:43

I had three sticks in succession, so I think that's 9 years in total. I didn't have a period for the time the stick was in. I had the stick removed in 4 months before I got pregnant (at 37). Sadly the first pregnancy ended in MMC, though I think that's just the luck of the draw. I was pregnant again 4 months later. DS is now 6 months and is a delight.

I'd say be careful what you read online. An anecdote isn't evidence (I include my own story in this) and if the advice is that your fetility returns immediately then assume that is true until a rigorous study proves otherwise. And don't panic, to put it bluntly you'll with get pregnant or you won't but as with so many other things in life worrying about it will not help. Easier said than done I surely know but be very careful what you read because it's easy to internalise stories you read and raise your anxiety levels without realising. Good luck x

NotAllIndividuals · 20/07/2018 16:45

Oops sorry, got wrong end of stick (haha?) and it's the clinic telling you that. Hmm just wondering if they have an ulterior motive?

Original poster
JoannaStayton · 20/07/2018 17:00

Thanks, glad it did work out for you in the end, that's really good to hear.

I'm not sure who may have an ulterior motive, the clinic seemed pretty honest, they said it wasn't worth me paying for any type of scan yet as the implant would still be confusing things. They were trying not to take my money. I'm wondering if the manufacturers of implanon would do so well if people knew that not everyone's fertility does come back so quickly. It would put people off and the NHS love them because they are so effective.

Whilst I was on it I did have periods on a fairly regular basis, they weren't too heavy, I went on it to stop the pain which was very bad without. They have just stopped now it's been taken out ...

x

OP posts:
NotAllIndividuals · 22/07/2018 20:32

Oh gosh that sounds odd to have periods with it in but not after it's out. I mean from what I know it's a slow release progesterone so I wonder what effect it can have once it's out? It would be interesting to hear if the clinic have an explanation, or if it's more their observations. I guess doctors have to say fertility returns straight away to avoid unwanted pregnancy but I wonder if there are some circumstances where it's not the case? Can you ask the GP for their take on it? Don't want to be dramatic but do you think there could be some other reason and you're putting it down to the implant because of the timing? X

physicskate · 23/07/2018 08:16

It's not that the implant is still affecting you directly, it's the fact that your body now needs to cycle like it hasn't done for 12 years. Yes fertility return immediately because you can ovulate at any time, which was prevented by the implant, but it could equally take awhile to get into normal cycles, which means regular ovulation. With regular ovulation, it's easier to pinpoint the time you need to have sex to get pregnant.

Dinosauraddict · 23/07/2018 13:36

My first cycle post implant removal was 53 days (implant was removed on day 8 of that). I was told by my GP that it would take around 6 months for cycles to normalise after having it out, although they did say that I would be unprotected immediately, so it could happen straight away. Before having it out I was on contraception for 13 years, and they said it would be normal for my body to take a while to adjust...

Original poster
JoannaStayton · 23/11/2020 17:10

Following up on this... my periods went back to normal after 4 months and were 28 days regular until I was lucky enough to get pregnant.

OP posts:
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