I had been on the combined pill for over 7 years and I thought my body could do with a break. Being in a long distance relationship, I could afford to go without worrying about contraception for about a year, but moving to the US required me to look again at what was out there. It came down to a choice between the shot and the implant, and as I would have had to pay for the shot here in the US, I went for the implant.
The implant itself is about the size of a matchstick, 40mm by 2mm or thereabouts. It's slightly bendy, and is placed just under the skin in the inside of your upper arm. You leave it in place for 3 years (2 if you're of a heavier build) and it slowly releases hormones into your body.
***How does it stop you getting pregnant?***
Several ways. It stops eggs from being produced every month, and should one get produced anyway, it thickens the mucus in your cervix to help deter any wandering sperm. Some literature states that it makes the womb lining thinner too. It says it is 99% effective, but I have also read that
no one has actually got pregnant on it, when used properly, but they could not say it was 100% for obvious reasons.
***What side effects can I expect?***Now here is the difficult bit. I have read reviews here and on other websites about women who had side effects. Me, personally myself, I have had hardly any, but I'll go into that later on. These are some of the side effects you MAY get, and I do mean may:
***How do you get one?***I got mine via the local family planning centre. I had to make an appointment to have a chat with a nurse and tell her why I wanted the implant as opposed to anything else. That appointment was very friendly. I asked her if moving abroad posed a problem (you cannot as of yet get Implanon in the US, so I will have to go back to the UK to get it removed), and she was fine with it. An appointment was made for the implant, but they wanted to put it in when I was on a period. As it turned out I was a week late, so I had to push the appointment forward a week, but that was no problem.
***How does it get inserted?***
I went to see the doctor, and she took my blood pressure, which was a little high (due to nerves). She took me to another room and lay me on a couch. Another woman was there who was being trained to insert the implants. I was told exactly what would happen and told to relax.
First of all, the area was numbed (you seriously don't want this inserted without numbing believe me, and if you don't like needles, look away now and until the doctor tells you you are done!). Needles don't bother me, so when she started with the numbing, I had no problem. She injected me about 6 times in a wheel pattern, but after the first injection I felt nothing. The other woman then opened the packet with the needle and implant in, and the implant fell out. This is not 'a good thing'. The doctor told her to get another one, which thankfully didn't fall apart. I felt nothing whatsoever when the implant went in, only a little pressure. It was over very quickly, only about 20 seconds, and the doctor put my finger on my arm so I could feel the implant. She then put a pressure bandage on, and told me to get up slowly. I felt a little lightheaded but otherwise fine.
I asked her how soon it would work, and she said it should work straight away as I was on my period, but she liked to give it 48 hours for the chemicals to kick in, and to use condoms in the mean time. Off I went with my new toy!
As it was, the numbing wore off quite quickly, and my arm ached like a mad thing. I had work the next day (data entry) and I couldn't use that arm at all. Even with the pressure bandage I got a huge bruise, and my arm wasn't back to normal for about a month. It says about 3 days to a week for it to heal, but expect longer with some people.
***Long terms effects?***
I have had the implant for 4 months now. I didn't have a period until last week, and that period was normal. Whether I'll get one every month now, or every 4 months I don't know, but I'll keep you updated. I've had no other side effects, and it's great! It really does seem to vary from woman to woman though, so don't take my experience as the written rule. I was told at the first appointment I had, that if I had no problem with the combined pill, then it was likely I'd have no serious side effects with the implant. So for those ladies out there that have trouble with the pill, you may want to think twice about the implant.
***Anything else?***
Yup, it's a great party trick, if you press the one end, the other end sticks up and grosses people out! Seriously, expect the area to remain tender for quite a while. Also, check it's there every now and again. Reports have been made of either it not being properly inserted in the first place, or it wandering off slightly. If it's in properly, your body will make an area of tissue around it (because your body sees it as a foreign object and holds it in place so it can't do any harm), and hold it there. Finally, if you do want it taken out, your fertility returns almost straight away, but you need to have a good reason to get it taken out. They cost the NHS a fair bit, so they don't like removing them without just cause.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone not wanting to start a family for at least 3 years, but please do read up on it first, and make sure you understand every aspect of it. Be aware of possible side-effects. If it's good for you, then have lots of fun with it ;)
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I had mine inserted last week and am really hoping that I wont have any of the nasty side effect. But at least I can have it removed if i do!! Nice review. Em x
taragravy 24.01.2006 21:15
Thank you! Am thinking of getting this done because I just can't remember my pill! But am real scared of needles, so thanks for explanation of what happens- at least I know what to expect! xx
angelatawn 10.04.2005 12:01
I don't think i could cope with having this put in, and I'm a bit concerned that it could increase the length of your periods! Angela x
Advantages: Didn't have to remember pills, easy insertion, easy removal. No major changes in periods. Disadvantages: Weight gain (2 stone in 3 years), Hair loss, loss of libido.
Advantages: Safe and effective for women who suffer from migraines or who can't take oestrogens. Disadvantages: None for me so far. Irregular bleeding for some women.
Feb 24th, 2005
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