Birth Control Implant: Benefits And Side Effects

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A birth control implant is a four-centimeter-long, soft plastic stick inserted under the skin of a woman’s upper arm. This type of implant falls under the category of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 10.4% of women in the US opt for this type of contraceptive. Following implantation, the device slowly releases small doses of synthetic steroid progestin at regular intervals (1).

The hormone released in the body prevents pregnancy and makes birth control implant an effective hormonal contraceptive. But are birth control implants safe? Do they cause pain when inserted into the arm? (2).

Keep reading to learn if birth control implants are safe and understand their effectiveness and risks.

How Does The Implant Work?

A birth control implant is a tiny, thin rod the size of a matchstick used for pregnancy prevention. It is available as the trade name of Nexplanon. It is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. It releases the hormone progestin, and it helps avoid unexpected pregnancy. The hormone responsible for birth control act in the following ways to prevent pregnancy (3).

• Progestin thickens the mucus on the cervix. It prevents the sperm from reaching the egg, preventing pregnancy.

• Progestin prevents ovulation. When there are no eggs to fertilize, pregnancy does not happen.

How Effective Is A Birth Control Implant?

The implant is one of the best contraceptive methods for family planning. It is more than 99% effective, and less than one percent of women with these implants inserted get pregnant each year.

However, this implant cannot help in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) . A male latex condom is the most effective way of preventing STIs, including HIV (4).

Insertion Procedure For The Implant

The doctor will ask for a detailed medical history to confirm if you are a suitable candidate to receive the birth control implant. The insertion procedure is pretty quick and does not hurt as the arm is numbed with local anesthesia before the procedure. Once the arm is numb, the doctor uses a special inserter tool to slide the implant under the skin. The procedure does not take more than a few minutes, and its effects are long-acting.

You may feel the pinch or sting when you are given the shot that numbs the skin. Once the skin is numb, you do not feel the process of the implant being inserted. Once the effect of local anesthesia wears off, you may feel a mild ache around where the implant was inserted, but the pain subsides quickly.

Image: Shutterstock

There might be localized soreness or swelling around the implant, or the surrounding skin may appear bruised for a couple of weeks after the implant is inserted. The doctor will guide you about the steps to take care of the skin around the implant.

Quick fact

Getting the implant during the first five days of the menstrual cycle provides immediate protection from pregnancy. However, an additional contraceptive method should be used for the next seven days if fitted later (10).

Benefits Of A Birth Control Implant

The following are the benefits of a subdermal birth control implant (5).

• They are a safe and convenient way of avoiding unintended pregnancy for up to three years.

• They are the “get-it-forget-it” mode of birth control. Because it is not user dependent, there is no risk of incorrect usage.

• They are discreet, and no one can know that you have an implant as it is not visible from the overlying skin.

• It is zero maintenance — you do not need to do anything about them until they reach their expiration date.

Image: IStock

• The implant also helps in reducing the intensity of period cramps. They also help in reducing menstrual flow. About one in three women stop getting their periods at all after a year of having an implant placed.

• Some other birth control methods use both estrogen and progesterone to help in birth control. However, some women with certain health conditions cannot use birth control methods that contain estrogen. Nexplanon is estrogen-free, and hence more women can use it.

• Nexplanon does not affect your fertility. It is reversible, and you can get it removed whenever you want to get pregnant. Moreover, it is possible to get pregnant as soon as you get your implant out of the body.

You can read about other methods of contraception here.

What Are The Drawbacks Of The Implant?

A woman’s vaginal bleeding pattern changes after the contraceptive implant has been inserted. While some women experience frequent or irregular bleeding, about 20% of women have no menstrual bleeding at all. However, it is important to know that it is not harmful to a woman’s health. Frequent or prolonged bleeding might get better with time. The doctor might prescribe some medicines for you to help with the bleeding problems (2).

Gina Faria, a make-up artist from London, shares the drawbacks she experienced after she implanted Implanon. She says, “I had no normal periods it was just random small amounts throughout the first three months or so. This was highly irritating but manageable. I visited a doctor to see if there was anything I could take to help she simply said to wait it out until my body got used to the implant..which it did, and everything eventually returned to normal. However, sometimes I would randomly skip a month or two and not get a period at all, so it depends. It will affect different women in different ways, some women don’t even get a period at all!…lucky (i).”

Point to consider

Medicines for epilepsy, natural products (such as St John’s Wort), and antibiotics (such as rifabutin or rifampicin) can make the implant less effective (10).

Birth control implants may be effective at avoiding unwanted pregnancy, but they do not protect against STIs. Male latex condoms are most effective at avoiding STIs (6).

What Are The Side Effects Of Birth Control Implants?

Some women complain of the following side effects (2).

• Headache, dizziness
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramps and bloating
• Sore or tender breasts
• Mood swings
• Acne
• Hair loss

Wen Wen, a blogger, shares the side effects that she experienced after her Implanon placement, “Irregular bleeding was probably my biggest frustration when I got implanted. I would have spotting for 11 days straight or 7 days, on and off. I’ve already stocked up a drawer full of napkins and liners. Mood changes are frustrating, too, but I’ve already experienced mood changes even before. Breast tenderness or pain is bearable, but I tend to go bra-less anyway. As for the other side effects, I have not experienced headaches, dizziness, weight gain, or hair loss and no menstrual cramps, too (ii).”

Image: IStock

The following are less common side effects of birth control implants (7).

• Change in appetite
• Change in libido

The birth control implants are not shown to cause weight gain. Some of these side effects often settle with time as your body gets adjusted to the implant. If you notice these symptoms lasting longer than usual, you must bring them to your doctor’s notice, and he/she might suggest that you shift to some other mode of birth control.

Birth Control Implant Removal

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The nurse or doctor will remove the birth control implant after three years or whenever the woman wants to stop using it. The removal is usually fast and easy. If you have had the implant for three years and still do not want to get pregnant, you can have a new implant inserted immediately after removal of your previous implant.

The process of removing the implant is a little longer than inserting it. The doctor will use an anesthetic to numb the skin around the implant. They make a small incision to retrieve the implant. Once the anesthesia begins to work, the process of putting the implant in or retrieving it doesn’t hurt. If you wish another implant to be placed, it can be done in the same appointment when you go for the implant removal (8).

Infographic: Advantages Of Birth Control Implants

There are several contraceptive methods available to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Birth control implants are one of them and are an effective method to prevent pregnancy. The infographic below presents the various advantages of birth control implants. Remember to consult your OB/GYN before opting for this method.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Learn about the different birth control options available to you! Get informed and make the best decision for your body.

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Dr. Ng Kai LynMMed (O&G), MRCOG

Dr. Ng Kai Lyn is a Singapore-based obstetrician and gynecologist, specializing in urogynecology, minimally invasive surgery, and clinical interest in fertility. She has an experience of 12 years managing and treating benign gynecological conditions, including uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometrial polyps, and endometriosis. She is also fellowship trained in urogynecology. She manages pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor reconstructive surgery, overactive...more

Dr. Ritika ShahBDS, CLC

Dr. Ritika Shah is a certified lactation counsellor (CLC) from iNational Health Care Academy, Singapore and a dental surgeon with more than seven years of clinical experience across various cities in India. She did her graduation in Dentistry from KM Shah Dental College. During her clinical practice, pediatric dentistry was her particular area of interest, and she constantly thrived to...more

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). She has been into health and...more

Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD

Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer. Her research work was published in international journals and publications, such...more