Contraceptive implant / rod experiences

[Illprobsregretthis]

Started on the implant in Jan this year after 2 babies. Unfortunately it’s messing with my cycle so much I’m getting my period every 10-14 days. This would be tolerable except my PMS symptoms seem to be soooo much worse - including terrible anxiety, insomnia, and irritability, and because I’m getting my period twice a month I’m pretty much always having a bad time of it bar about 3 days a month where I feel fine. I would go to the GP but I just feel like they’ll tell me this is a side effect and there’s nothing they can do for me except come off it. I can’t really come off it because I don’t want to get pregnant again and it’s one of the more reliable methods. Anyone been in the same boat? I thought maybe once it had been a few months it would calm down but nope! Just looking for experiences if anyone’s been through anything similar.

I’ve had two implants - first time around it was perfect, second time around it was hellish - non stop period for 6 months and I had to have it removed in the end. My hormones really impacted my mood. I now don’t use any hormonal contraceptive at all.

I'm going to get a coil... would that work for you? I've had my kids and am nearly 40

Made my hair fall out. That was over 20 years ago though, so probably different now.

It caused non-stop bleeding for months and really affected my mood, although didn't notice until it was taken out how much. Really awful experience and I'd never get it again. Been using the copper coil and feel so much better for it.

Same as PP, the first one I had was good, periods a little irregular but manageable. Subsequent implants were awful, incessant bleeding, terrible mood swings and irritability. Didn’t realise the impact until I came off it for good. Now avoid all hormonal contraception and finally feel like myself again.

Yes I had it when I was younger and I remember it being absolutely perfect - no issues, and no periods pretty much. But this time it’s sooo much worse - wondering if it’s the impact of having kids and the hormonal changes there? But yes I think I might need to come off hormonal contraception altogether too, it’s just impacting my mood so much.

The implant didnt agree with me. I bled constantly for months. I had to argue with my gp to remove it. I got to the point if she didnt take it out I would remove it myself.

Thanks; I’ll look into the coil! I think it’s interesting what you say about not noticing the impact until you come off it - sometimes I’ll be so anxious and have terrible insomnia and I’ll think god this doesn’t make sense. I forget that hormonal contraception could even be a factor in how I’m feeling! I’ve been on contraception since I was a teen bar a brief few years pregnant / trying. I haven’t really given my body a break since.

I think they can give you the mini pill with it. I had the implant and had it removed it did not agree with me and same as you I was constantly getting a period I was told
Give it a year and I did but the migraines were awful. I’m now on mini pill and love it xxx

Argue?! I didn’t know they could refuse to remove it? You know I had a huge issue trying to get it in the first place, there is apparently a national shortage and the waitlist was like months long. Now I want it out again 🫠

I finally got mine removed after 14 months. Some times I'd get 3, heavy periods in 2 months, sometimes I had constant light bleeding for 2 months... Emotionally it messed me up too. I was on the waiting list to get it removed for 3 months untill I went to the doctor, basically in tears, asking them to do something because I was so exhausted and emotional all the time. They took it out a few days later and after a month or so I felt so much more stable emotionally.

I am going back over ten years, but the GP at my surgery did argue at removing it. I did point out I was never told it should be in for X number of years and was causing more issues than it solved. It worked as a contraceptive as who wants to have sex when they are bleeding?? Sorry to be so blunt.

I had it once and persevered for the three years thinking it would get better and it didn’t. Periods came and went from one day to the next, I never knew if I used sanitary products at the beginning of the day whether I would need them at the end and vice versa. Best day was when it was removed.