The Implant

GET IT AND FORGET IT
If you’re a busy person who doesn’t want to worry about remembering birth control, Nexplanon just may be for you. Once it’s in, it lasts for up to 3 years, just remember, the implant does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

HANDS FREE
No packages or prescriptions to pick up at the pharmacy, so there’s nothing that could get lost or forgotten.

TOTAL PRIVACY
No one can tell when you have the implant. There’s no tell-tale packaging, and nothing you need to do right before you have sex.

THE PREGNANCY QUESTION
You should return to fertility (fancy way of saying you should go back to being able to get pregnant) any time after Nexplanon is removed. So don’t take any chances. If you get it taken out, but you’re not ready for a baby, protect yourself with another method right away.

ONCE NEXPLANON IS INSERTED,
it’s as easy to use as, well, doing nothing. That’s right. The Nexplanon implant just sits there, under your skin in your upper arm, offering protection against pregnancy for up to three years.

Here’s how the whole thing goes: go to the doctor or healthcare provider, they gather all your medical info and give you a physical exam, then they numb a small area of your upper arm with a painkiller and insert the implant under your skin. And you’re done.

If you get Nexplanon during the first five days of your period, lucky you: You’re set with pregnancy protection from that very moment. If you’re outside of those first five days, you’ll need to use a backup method for the following week. Ex: Male condoms, female condoms, diaphragm, sponge, or emergency contraception.

When it’s time to take the Nexplanon out, your doctor will numb your arm again, make a tiny cut in your skin, and remove the implant. If you’re interested in continuing to use Nexplanon, they can put another implant in at the same time.

THERE ARE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY
about each and every method. And everyone’s different—so what you experience may not be the same as what your friend experiences.

THE POSITIVE
Positive “side effects”? You bet. There are actually lots of things about birth control that are good for your body as well as your sex life.

• Doesn’t interrupt the heat of the moment


• Some people have fewer, lighter periods


• You don’t have to worry about remembering to take it every day


• Your birth control is taken care of for up to 3 years


• Can be used by women who can’t take estrogen


• May improve PMS, depression and symptoms from endometriosis

THE NEGATIVE
Everyone worries about negative side effects, but for many people, they’re not a problem. And if you do experience side effects, they’ll probably go away. Remember, you’re introducing hormones into your body, so it can take a few months to adjust. Give it time.

THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT:

• Irregular bleeding, especially for the first 6-12 months. This could mean spotting in between periods or having longer, heavier periods. Some people have irregular bleeding the whole time Nexplanon is in. On the other hand, some people get no periods at all, at least for a while. A little unpredictable, but most people seem to do okay. Bottom line: You need to be okay with irregular periods if you are thinking about the Nexplanon implant .

If you find the side effects unbearable after six months, talk with your doctor about switching to something that works for you. Just make sure to stay protected by starting a new method immediately. You’re worth it.
*For a very small number of women there are risks of serious side effects.

WE’RE HERE TO GET THIS METHOD WORKING BETTER FOR YOU.
And if it still doesn’t feel right, we’ve got ideas for other methods. Just remember: If you change methods, make sure you’re protected during your switch.

I DON’T LIKE THE SPOTTING.
This is a side effect that may be hard to fix, but if you’ve only had Nexplanon for a few months or less, it could also lessen or go away on its own.

Still not working?
If the spotting doesn’t improve with time, you might want to check out methods that let you have a predictable period. These include the pill, the patch, or the ring.

I’M READY TO GET PREGNANT.
Easy enough. Make an appointment to get it removed. Once it’s removed, the hormones in your body should go back to normal pretty quickly.

I FEEL MOODY, BLOATED, OR NERVOUS.
If Nexplanon is new to you (that means 6 months or less) and the side effects are bearable, give it a little more time - hormone levels will start to level off, so those hormonal side effects tend to go away.

Still not working?
If you’ve given it at least six months and the side effects are still bothering you, consider trying a shorter-acting, lower-dose method, such as the pill, the patch, or the ring. You could also try an IUD

I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE THOUGHT OF HAVING SOMETHING IN MY BODY FOR A LONG TIME.
It’s understandable if the idea of the insertion of a medical device makes you nervous. A couple of things that might help, all the birth control devices have been rigorously tested and are FDA-approved for long-term use. And because it’s designed to be there for a long time, you can pretty much just forget about Nexplanon for up to 3 years. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you may have.

Still not working?
If you’re still bothered by the thought of having a device inside of you, there are plenty of other options. By not liking the feeling of “something in my body” we assume you’re talking about a device and not a drug, right? If so, what about the shot, the pill, or the patch?

I GET WORRIED THAT I’M PREGNANT BECAUSE I DON’T BLEED REGULARLY.
With Nexplanon, it’s totally normal to stop having your period and many people look at that as a good thing. If you’re still worried about pregnancy take a pregnancy test and speak with your healthcare provider about your concerns.

Still not working?
If it’s important to you to have regular periods so that you’re sure you’re not pregnant, you might want to try a cyclic method like the ring, the patch, or the pill.