Does the implant work after 3 years?

[BlueIvy11]

I'm asking this as I've been trying for months to get my implant replaced with no luck. Waiting lists are months long and I'm looking at paying the £350 privately. My implant is now expired.

Does the implant last longer than 3 years? NHS website says up to four years! I'm just worried and stressed as the implant is the only contraception that is safe for me to use.

Yes I was told by family planning I would be safe for up to 4 years. I had mine replaced just short of 4 years due to the pandemic. Mine expired 3 years April 2020 so was v bad timing

Thank you!

I've been stressing about it as I've had them in for years and I've never not been on contraception. How long after expired di you keep it in?

Studies show that yes, it is effective for longer than 3yrs.

When you say the implant is the only contraception safe for you to use, no condoms? No mini pill? The implant is progesterone based, same as mini pill.

Wow why are the waiting lists so long? Dd called and got an appointment for hers to be changed a week later!

I think I was a few weeks short of 4 years before I had mine changed. When I called family planning in feb 2021 they fast tracked me as I was so close to being outside the 4 year window. I had been trying to book an appt online prior to that for ages but they were always gone, eventually gave up and called and they booked me in. If you haven't called family planning I would try that

I got pregnant at the three year mark on the implant so while they can be effective after that they aren't always!

yes. Hadn't realized mine had expired past 3 years (hadn't reached 4 years yet) but didn't get pregnant. When I was ready to try for a baby I conceived on the first try so I believe it was definitely still working (plus periods hadn't returned)

My consultant said I am only able to use the implant. The pill makes me sick and I tried a few different ones. The coil, I have ovarian cysts so not recommended. I like the implant too as it's there for 3 years and I don't have any issues with it really. I went into boots in a panic and bought the hana pill and I seem to be ok on that this past week, so that is an option. I'm also allergic to latex so condoms are not great.

I usually get it removed a month before it expires. But I've had no luck and I've tried clinics outside of my Borough too. It's 6 weeks waiting list for a telephone assessment then a further 6 months for an actual appointment. It's crazy.

I hope you can get an appointment for a replacement ASAP.

I’m sure you know already by you can buy latex free condoms, though they are expensive. Your local sexual health walk in clinic may give you a few for free.

I'm going to just pay private and take the hit with costs. I feel uneasy about it being expired in my arm and waiting 6 months is not what I want to do. My sister is having to wait 3 months for the depo injection. I have no idea what is going on with the sexual health clinics around here. Alot of them have shut.

Unfortunately, budgets to sexual health services have been being cut viciously for years and consequently they’ve been shrinking to the point of disappearance (or consolidating into cost saving central ‘hubs’ rather than lots of little clinics). It’s a scandal but no one important cares because it largely affects women and young people.

I asked this question on why they are cutting a service that is very much jeeded for women. I was a teen mother myself. I had a child at 16. I didn't have the full knowledge of contraception and I'd hate for young girls to not have contraception accessible to them when they need it. I'm going private now to just get it done. I understand cuts have to be made but they plaster it about preventing teen/unwanted pregnancies but access to contraception has become difficult. I've never known it like this before! I even got told to just not have sex, but why should my sex life have to suffer because of this? Even my consultant couldn't believe it when I told him.

I am 46 I have implant for 2 years now period comes on and off and light. But this moth it has taken longer than usual Very light as well and somedays no bleading. Is there anyone had this problem