Spotting on Nexplanon implant

[Cottipus]

I had the implant fitted three weeks ago. I had nothing for the first 9-10 days, then a bleed when my period would have been due. It was lighter than my normal periods.

Since then I’ve been spotting everyday. I only need a couple of pantyliners per day, but I hoped having the implant fitted would help with my heavy periods- not cause more bleeding!

Can anyone else share their experiences of spotting on the implant? Did it eventually stop or lessen?

Implants are notorious for erratic bleeding, which can persist for several months. Where I work we say it can take up to six months to settle and if it doesn’t improve after that then it is unlikely to. If you came to see me and you were still bleeding erratically after 3-4 months, I would offer you the combined pill alongside it to take for six weeks with no break to see if it ‘resets’ your bleeding (if you had no contraindications for the combined pill) and if that didn’t stop it, it’s unlikely to stop, at which point I’d discuss other options with you.

In general though, the implant is either the holy grail for some women or constant bleeding for others, there seems to be no middle ground!

@WetBandits thanks! The nurse told me I’m too old for the combined pill (43) but maybe they’ll consider it alongside the implant short term?

As you said I will try and stick it out for a few months and hope it settles. I briefly went on the mini pill a couple of years ago after giving birth but couldn’t cope with the spotting then and stopped. I hoped it was just post-birth hormones and I might have a better chance this time.

If not I may have to persuade DH to get the snip.

If it was just your age that was the issue and not BMI, blood pressure etc, 43 is absolutely fine (the combined pill can be given up to age 50!) as long as you’re not a smoker. 😊

@WetBandits I know this is an older post, sorry - but what colour blood would be normal on the implant? Mine has been a watery red colour but I see almost everyone say theirs is more of a brown colour. I've had three watery red bleeds and only one brown bleed since I got put on it around 3 & a half months ago