The hormonal implant and my experience with it

What is the implant & how it works

Source

I chose the #nexplanon implant as a form of contraception after a thorough research of all the possible forms of contraceptions out there. This one seemed like the safest one with the least possible side effects. It only contains one type of hormone (progesterone) and a minimal amount at that, as opposed to the pill which contains a far bigger amount of two types of hormones. Another form of contraception with even less hormones in it is the coil, which I decided against after reading so many bad reviews about people’s reaction to it. It is inserted into the womb and from what I read it can hurt quite badly during and after the insertion.

The implant is inserted into the arm under the skin and it stays effective for up to three years. The insertion process isn’t pleasant, but it’s 5 minutes pain for 3 years freedom. 1 out of 100 girls get pregnant on it, which is still quite a high number I’d say, but I don’t think I’d be the one.

When they put it in the first time

I had my first one put in at the sexual health clinic in Croydon, UK. The nurse first told me about all the possible side effects first, which among others include weight gain, depression and mood swings, irregular bleeding…not a nice list of things but there are possible side effects to every type of contraception. She gave me shot of local anaesthetics into my upper left arm. The implant is a thin rod of plastic, that she inserted into a gun-like thing and placing it close to my arm she shot it under my skin. It didn’t hurt at all with the anaesthetics. After that she wrapped some bandage around my arm and I was ready to go, the implant being effective right away!

How it felt during those 2.5 years

I didn’t experience almost any side effects on it. No weight gain, no depression, just the irregular periods. First my period went away completely, and then it came every few months. I felt like I found the ideal form of contraception. After 2.5 years my periods became very regular, and that’s when I started reading up on why that is. I found out that it might be a sign that the effectivity of the implant has decreased and I am more likely to get pregnant. I made an appointment at the sexual health clinic straight away to have it exchanged.

Again I started reading about people’s experience when having it exchanged and I found out some have reacted differently to their second implant, having less/more mood swings or different periods. I have yet to find out how I’ll react as mine only went in yesterday.

When they put the new one in

I went to the sexual health clinic in Luton this time. The nurse that I had the appointment with was thorough and professional. She agreed with me exchanging it early due to the regular periods. I signed the consent form with all the side effects listed again and she gave me a shot of anaesthetics after I lied down on the bed. She made a cut in my arm so she could pull out the old implant. She said she’d try to use the same hole for the new one, but because there was too much blood coming out from the cut she made (the implant was too close to a vein), she had to make a new hole for the new one. That meant another shot of anaesthetics, which I was quite ok with as I do not like pain. Once my arm was numb again, she started inserting the new implant. She didn’t do it with a gun, instead she just pushed it inside. It was quite a nauseating feeling and it took a while so I was relieved when she said it was ready. She wrapped some bandage around my arm, told me not to lift anything heavy for a week and I was off.

My arm started hurting once the anaesthetic was out of my system. Every time I moved it I felt stabbing pain. It improved by the evening and today I only feel it a little, but I’ll be careful with it for a while.

Conclusion

I still stand by my opinion of the implant being the best form of contraception out there (for me). It might be different for other people, everyone’s body reacts a different way to these thing, but I’d suggest trying this one out as a first option if you’re looking for a long term solution, and if it doesn’t for then try different forms.

Update: this is what my arm looks like after 5 days. Doesn't hurt, just a bit ugly