Thank you to everyone that reads my reviews. I will always try and return a rate. If you read me but...
Thank you to everyone that reads my reviews. I will always try and return a rate. If you read me but I seem to be missing your reviews then please do drop me a note in my private guestbook xxx
I am 21 and a few months into my fourth and final year of teacher training at University. Therefore I do not want to get pregnant for at the very least two years. I have been with my boyfriend for over a year now and neither of us enjoy using condoms with their slimy rubbery smellyness. Female condoms were a disaster and so I have had to rely on my pill taking abilities. Unfortunately, these are not too great as my memory is awful and I forget at least 2-3 pills a week. I've been on the contraceptive pill since I was 16 and it has been successful in preventing babies and in preventing horrendous period pains. But having been on it so long and with my ever increasing carelessness I decided that I wanted to come off of it to give my body a break and find a method more suited to my terrible memory.
I made an impulsive decision to have a contraceptive implant fitted and rang the clinic who gave me a consultation later that day. They took my blood pressure and a few medical history details, told me the pros and cons and made me an appointment for the next day to have it inserted.
You can get implanon inserted at family planning clinics and some doctor surgeries depending on whether the doctor is trained in inserting the Implant.
Implanon is a white stick, which is almost the same size as a match. It contains the hormone Etonogestrel that is a synthetic form of the naturally occurring female sex hormone, progesterone. The hormone prevents pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg and by increasing the thickness of the mucus at the cervix which helps stop sperm from entering the womb.
Implanon slowly releases Etonogestrel into the bloodstream and contains enough to release it steadily over three years. The implant itself doesn't dissolve in your body and should be removed after three years or before if you choose.
Insertion
I'm quite relaxed with needles and being poked and prodded so I was pretty chilled when I turned up at the clinic. I went through to the doctors room and was told to lay on the bed. The put my left arm on an armrest out to the side of me and then cleaned the area of my arm with a wipe. They talked me through the process - first injecting a local anaesthetic which didn't hurt at all and then I had to lay and wait for a couple of minutes for the anaesthetic to kick in. The nurse then unwrapped the implant, which looked like a white matchstick. I made the mistake of still looking when she opened the insertion device!!! It was like a giant syringe but with a long tube on the end about the size of a drinking straw with a pointy sharp end!!
First she made a small incision with a scalpel on the inside of my left arm about halfway between the elbow and shoulder. Then she used the large pointy device to insert the implant just under the skin. She then applied steri-strips over the hole in my arm to close it up and put a dressing and compression bandage on it. The whole process was totally painless and all I could feel was a slight pushing sensation on my arm whilst she was inserting the implant.
The doctor gave me a little card to put in my purse which told me the date I will need to have the implant removed which is in three years time. She explained that if I had any problems to come back and she would remove it.
Aftercare
I was surprised at how little my arm hurt afterwards. The anaesthetic held for a while and then I felt a bruising pain so had a couple of painkillers so that it wouldn't bother me. I had to keep the bandage on for two days and couldn't get it wet for three days. It bruised really dramatically and my arm looked awful (I will try and include a photo!) it didn't hurt as much as it looked like it should - only if I knocked it or if someone poked it asking if it hurt!!! My bandage came loose at one point and whilst wrapping it back round my arm my dad quite enjoyed giving the bruise the odd poke. The bruising took two weeks to completely disappear and once the swelling had gone down I could feel the implant under my skin.
Removal
The implant is removed in a similar procedure to the insertion process. They give you an anaesthetic, make a tiny incision and push the implant to the hole and remove it with a pair of tweezers. Obviously I cannot comment on this procedure as I have not had mine removed yet! Although a quick look on YouTube showed a few videos of removal which didn't look too horrific! You can have the implant removed at any time so if you do not like it or decide that you want to have babies you can just make an appointment to have it removed. Your fertility returns to normal as soon as the implant is removed. When have it taken out after three years you can have them insert a new one at the same
Pictures of Implanon Contraceptive Implant
close up of the bruising three days after insertion
to save making more holes in your arm!
My Experience
Since having my implant inserted I have been raving about it and would recommend it to anyone. It is so fantastic not to have to worry about dealing with contraception or about contraception failing me!!! The implant is deemed quite a lot more reliable than the contraceptive pill and so I feel quite safe.
I have the implant put in nearly six months ago now and it is one of the best decisions I ever made. I have not had any periods which is really really nice. My hormones are always perfectly balanced so I do not get PMS and therefore feel much happier in myself as I don't spend a week each month feeling rubbish. I have put on a little weight but realistically I know that is because I have been ordering more takeaways lately due to the laziness of being on placement all day. So as far as I am concerned I have had no negative side effects and am over the moon with this wonderful invention.
The Positives
A highly reliable contraception method
In the majority of people you will have no periods and therefore no hormonal imbalance and PMS
Saves you money as you do not have to purchase other contraceptives and the lack of periods means you save money on sanitary products.
I personally have had less spots due to my hormones being more balanced
I have not had a single migraine since having the implant in and I used to get them regularly when I was on the pill.
It lasts three whole years!!!
You can have it taken out at anytime if you are not happy with it.
The insertion is quick, free and painless
I feel totally emotionally balanced and it has helped a lot with my depression to the extent that I have now been off my antidepressants for five months.
totally hassle free once its inserted
you can feel it under your skin to re-assure yourself that it I there!
The hormone goes straight into your bloodstream so unlike the pill, if you are on antibiotics or have sickness or diarrhoea it will not make it less effective.
Women of any age can have the implant, even if you are close to menopause.
The scar on your arm is practically invisible
you don't get alot of the side-effects that you can get with the pill
The Negatives
If you are quite overweight you may have to have the implant removed after two years as the dose in the third year is slightly lower and may not be as effective (doctor will advise you on this)
You have to put up with a few days of bad bruising on your arm
It does not give protection against sexually transmitted infections.
You will have a tiny scar on your arm.
there are some possible side-effects such as weightgain, spots etc.
Overall
As I mentioned above, having my implant fitted is one of the best decisions I have ever made. It makes the sex and hormonal side of my life hassle free and I know I am protected without having to take pills etc. I would recommend the implant to anyone who does not want to get pregnant for a while. After having such success with Implanon, I would never go back to using the pill. I have since spoken to various other people who have the implant and have heard a lot of similar success stories. The main reason people are put off appears to be because they worry about having it inserted but it really isn't bad at all. I give Implanon 5 stars and thoroughly recommend it.
On top of all the sensible things there is also the added bonus of you being able to entertain yourself with you implant. The best one was when my 9 year old brother was asking about what the bruise was. I explained that the doctor had put something in my arm to stop me getting pregnant (dont worry - he has already done sex-ed in school!) and he asked if he could touch it - I let him feel my arm and he said it was nasty to feel it under my skin. Then I saw the opportunity for some fun and I told him to squeeze my hand. He started to do this an asked why. I said "because if you squeeze my hand the implant will pop out my arm and bounce into your eye". His face was a picture and even now he is cautious about holding my hand when we cross the road!!! Hilarious!!
My boyfriend - despite him benefitting from the implant in many ways does not actually like it. He hates the fact that you can feel it if you press my arm so that gives a lot of potential to wind him up for fun!!!
And then other people in general can be wound up. If you stretch the skin on your arm with your fingers the implant is vaguely visable. If you press one end of it down the other end pokes up under your skin and its brilliant to make people squirm!!! So really there is so much potential!!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
at last! A very well written, informative review. I'm thinking of getting one inserted as I've just had a baby and looking for something hassle free unlike the pill.
darkness_daisy 03.03.2009 22:09
Brilliant review, I'm thinking of getting this so doing some research! xx
Coloneljohn 14.12.2008 10:33
Very useful personal advice. Not something that I will be needing though. John
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.
Nov 8th, 2008
(Nov 9th, 2008)
exceptional by (26%):
very helpful by (73%):
helpful by (1%):
