Irregular Periods After Nexplanon Removal

[Lozzerz98]

Hi All,

Just looking to see if anyone else has experienced these issues?

I had the Nexplanon implant removed in March this year after having it in for 6 years (1 replacement done halfway through). I initially bled lightly on and off for 3 months after getting it put in, and then stopped totally for the remainder of the time I had it.

I had no period whatsoever until the end of April but wasn’t worried at first as I know it can take a couple months for things to regulate. But that first period was HEAVY, I was going through one super plus tampon an hour and bleeding through every time (not exaggerating) and then it lasted for over 6 weeks (at which point I contacted a GP and was prescribed progesterone to end it). I then had no period until mid August. Again, it was ridiculously heavy, it lasted 6 weeks and I again had to be prescribed progesterone in order to stop the flow.

I’m now 7 weeks into my next period after starting in mid November. This time it’s very light but I’ve been bleeding non stop for 7 weeks.

After the first weird period I bought some OTC ovulation strips and began taking them every other day or so to see if and when I was ovulating. According to said strips I haven’t ovulated at all since coming off the implant. I’ve had some dark-ish lines but none that truly indicate a positive. I have no idea if I was ovulating normally prior to the implant but before to the implant I was on various forms of birth control but none that stopped my period, and my period was regular (29 day cycle, heavy but not as heavy as described above, and painful) where as these periods seem irregular, stupidly heavy and not painful at all (in fact I don’t seem to have any period symptoms other than the bleeding and a bit of acne whereas I used to get the full remit of symptoms). Everything before indicated all was normal.

I have been to the GP who keeps fobbing the problems off on my weight (I am overweight but I’ve been the same weight since LONG before the implant). They don’t seem to have any answers and aren’t offering any help as I had blood tests done which came back normal. I’m fed up of constant bleeding for weeks on end, and now really concerned about my fertility. My husband and I have only actively been trying since October but if I’m not ovulating it’s obviously not going to happen.

I just wondered if anyone else has had similar issues and I’m hoping for some advice if possible. Thanks xx

@Lozzerz98 Hello :)

So, I had a different experience when I had my Nexplanon out - I had it out in March 2021, had my first period in April and, although there has been a little more variation in length since (25-28 days), they've been pretty regular since. I'm 35 now, so have to accept there will be a lot more variation in my cycle than my pre-Nexplanon days.

I did, however, have the injection before and it took an entire year for my cycle to return to any kind of normalcy for me. In the end, I asked to go on the pill to sort them out. I wasn't trying to conceive at the time, I was only 24 and in a relatively new relationship, but I was constantly coming on unexpectedly, bleeding for a day or two, then nothing for a few months, then repeat. I took the pill for three months, I think, and it sorted my cycle out quite well.

Keep going back to your GP about the unexplained bleeding. The implant has been out for so long now I don’t think it can be blamed really.

Keep trying to track your ovulation, it’s good if you’re having darker strips. I never had a “fully positive” (darker than the control line) but was ovulating as I got pregnant. Some women just have slightly lower levels or you might just have missed the peak by a few hours.

Hi,

I am the OP but can’t log in rn. I’m only 25, so having changes to my cycle like this seems a bit out of the ordinary.

Hi. Ive been bleeding EVERY single day since october 2024, i had my implant out in june. Very annoying and depressing