Another Birth control post...Implanon

emcme22

So sorry about another birth control post, the others reminded me I wanted to ask this. So I am currently on the pill but I have an appointment next week and have been thinking of asking about getting the Implanon implant. Does anyone else have one? What are your thoughts on it? I'd like a bc method that takes human error out of the equation, I suck at taking the pill on time etc, but don't think an iud sounds like a good option. Thanks for any input.

theycallmelinz

I have the nexplanon in my arm and I love it. I've had it almost a year now and haven't had any issues. I don't have periods anymore but that's normal. I heard stories of people who had crazy mood swings with this, but I didn't have a hard time at all.

ShesSoCold

My sister has the implanon. She had horrible, unpredictable periods with cramping for almost three months straight when she first got it. After that was over, no side affects. I asked for it and my doctor didn't recommend it for the reasons my sister had and also mood swings. She said that a LOT of people come back in within a month or two to get it removed.

I have the mirena and the only side affect I have is acne, which I have anyway, but it's almost unmanageable now.  

themosthappy91

Ah I just posted about this on the other BC thread and then scrolled down and saw this one!  

I had Nexplanon for 9 months.  When I first got it I loved it- painless insertion, stopped getting my period (a plus, to me at least), no mood swings, no decreased sex drive.  BUT I gained 20 pounds in the first three months and my skin became so, so oily.  I have always had very dry skin even throughout my teen years, so it was definitely an experience learning how to deal with oily skin for the first time at age 22... and we're not talking oily like "Oh my face gets a little shiny by the end of the day", we're talking I would wake up and my face literally felt WET with oil... and so obviously I had horrible breakouts as a result of this sudden onslaught, not just on my face but on my chest and back as well.  So between that and the weight gain, I felt pretty gross.  I decided to give it some time to wait and see if my body readjusted but at the nine month mark I got it taken out, largely because it was just too much to have such awful physical side effects while I was trying to get in my best shape for the wedding.  I'm curious as to whether I could have learned to manage those side effects if I'd given it more time... the skin I think maybe I could have gotten sorted out, the weight gain I'm not sure.  Other than those two things though it was the perfect easy birth control, so I was pretty disappointed to have to throw in the towel.  I would recommend trying it if you are interested, despite my less than ideal experience... it was just so convenient!  But now I'm back to the pill, ugh.

firebabe6519

I would stay as far as possible from Implanon. It is Hell! I have had it for about two years now. It causes 20+ pounds of weight gain... You are eternally on your period, and sex causes you to start again if you happened to be blessed with more than three days in a row with no period. I never had irregular periods or cramps before. But after it was implanted, I have only not been heavily bleeding for a grand total of 43 days in the one year, eleven months, and four days I have had it.

themosthappy91

firebabe6519 said:

I would stay as far as possible from Implanon. It is Hell! I have had it for about two years now. It causes 20+ pounds of weight gain... You are eternally on your period, and sex causes you to start again if you happened to be blessed with more than three days in a row with no period. I never had irregular periods or cramps before. But after it was implanted, I have only not been heavily bleeding for a grand total of 43 days in the one year, eleven months, and four days I have had it.

Just curious and meaning no disrespect- is there a reason you haven't gotten it out yet?  That really does sound like a nightmare!

firebabe6519

I kept it for the first year on my OBGYN's advice. She had me try a couple different things that are supposed to help normalize everything. Then we moved at the end of last year, and the earliest I could get in with the doctor in our area was December. So in about a month I finally can get it out! (We live in a very small rural community now. There are not many choices for doctors clinics and it takes almost a year to get a wellness appointment before they will even see you for anything else.) I have had this December 1st appointment set up since the end of January.

If I wanted a female doctor, the wait list was until May 27, 2015.

themosthappy91

firebabe6519 said:

I kept it for the first year on my OBGYN's advice. She had me try a couple different things that are supposed to help normalize everything. Then we moved at the end of last year, and the earliest I could get in with the doctor in our area was December. So in about a month I finally can get it out! (We live in a very small rural community now. There are not many choices for doctors clinics and it takes almost a year to get a wellness appointment before they will even see you for anything else.) I have had this December 1st appointment set up since the end of January. If I wanted a female doctor, the wait list was until May 27, 2015.

Oh my goodness, bless your heart that is just horrible!  I'm glad at least you'll be free of this horrible experience soon.

mrsdee15

I had Nexplanon for about three months.  I've never experienced mood swings or adverse effects from BC, so this was a total surprise.  I was SO moody - like upset about EERRRRYTHING - and also gained seriously 10 lbs in that time and felt constantly like my uterus was trying to abandon ship.  I got it removed and now take Seasonique.  I don't love pills but at least I don't feel crazy or like my body parts are trying to secede. 

As a sidenote, I'm not sure if it was because she went on the Nexplanon also, but a work friend of mine went on it about three months ago - she lost weight with lots of effort, but has been completely different in that time emotionally.  Not sure if it's because of the BC or she's under stress, but it's something to think about.