Implant and the pill together?

[treesaregreenandblue]

Hi Ladies,

Just wondering if anyone had any experience of the contraceptive implant (I have the UK implanon one) and the pill together?

I've had the implant before and in the whole time I was on it I had probably 2 or 3 very light 'periods' (spotting really.) (I did have bouts of sickness on it which looking back now I'm sure was due to it, but period wise, it was great!).

This time round though...! I think one 'period' (not technically periods on it?, I'm not sure, but you know what I mean..!), anyway , I think one period lasted around 3 weeks! Sometimes I just get light spotting, sometimes it's proper periods, with all the pains etc, and as I say some lasting a really long time! And all very irregular so no way of knowing what and when! 🙄. Also, (sorry if TMI..., but sex seems to 'trigger' it sometimes. At first i put it down to coincidence, but def not now).

I've got a GP appointment coming up, (apart from anything else the bleeding after sex is one thing you should always talk to them about?, Although I'm pretty sure linked to the implant). Anyway, also, I've read about people going on the pill alongside the implant to try to 'settle' these (apparently fairly common following a google search) symptoms. But from what I've read it's very mixed reviews...

Just wondered if anyone has any experiences/advice?

Sorry; I could probably just have said the last bit, some might say I'm an 'over sharer'...! .

Thank you in advance for any replies xx.

I had the implant put in and soon after the GP prescribed microgynon pills to stop the constant bleeding. They promised that the bleeding would eventually stop and until then the pill would stop it, it never did, the moment I forgot to take a pill I would be bleeding again. It sent me crazy being on those levels of hormones, my struggles with depression and anxiety started during this time and it was debilitating, I wish I’d never had the implant now. I know several other women who have had the same experiences, and we all had to fight to get the implant removed. Two GPs refused me, insisting it would settle and I only managed to get one to agree to take it out after four years of misery when it was close to expiring anyway. Honestly in your position it sounds like you don’t react well to the implant, I would look for another option of contraception before you double up on hormones.

Hi OP - I'm on my third Implanon. Over the years I've had the pill prescribed 3 times to assist with prolonged spotting/light periods (3 weeks or so). Once I had something else prescribed (sorry, can't remember the name) because I'd had a period for 6 weeks and was miserable as sin! I remember the receptionist at the doctors saying "oh god you poor thing" as I explained what the appointment was for!

I've had no other problems doubling-up as a previous poster has, but all our bodies are different and it's not easy to predict how yours will react. I'd say try it - with any luck it'll settle. If not, you have other options available. Good luck.

Bleeding after sex actually sounds like it could be something else such as endometriosis (I suffer from this) so definitely get it checked out.

I also have an implant (nexplanon) and rarely bleed and even then it’s a result of my endometriosis rather than a period

I should point out that the prescription I got after the 6-week bleed was definitely not another kind of contraceptive pill, but it was one that was designed to stop the bleeding through hormones. Looking at this page I think it was Tranexamic acid.

Thank you for your replies ladies x.

Really glad I went to the dr..

After an exam she said I have a thing where (and I'm annoyed at myself cos I didn't write the name down and now I'm not even sure of the details!), but a thing where as I understand it, some of the sort of lining of the womb has come down, so gets easily knocked and more likely to cause bleeding when , um.. 'prodded' .. . I think also makes bleeding generally more likely. Apparently the extra hormones in the implant can cause this (or any other contraceptive).

I'm really not explaining very well (not even sure that's exactly it) but what I am sure of, is that it's basically nothing 'serious'. It can be fixed - going to be referred to have a 'procedure' (done while awake/numbed etc). She did say that some bleeding could be caused by the implant, but def the majority (and bleeding after sex ) is this.

FYI... if anyone knows what I'm talking about?!, and knows it's name; please let me know.?! lol x.

(I wish I had written it down as I'd love to google it; but as long as it's not serious and is easily sorted I'm happy x)

I really haven't explained that well! But basically it's not the implant directly, something else is causing the bleeding, especially after sex x.