Photo by obo-bobolina.
(The implant I’m referring to throughout this post is Implanon. For more info see their website.)
Now, a lot of people feel that the topic of contraception is something strictly to be shared with your doctor but throughout my exploration of the best ones for me I’ve found that doing research and reading people experiences has helped me make the decisions that I have. I hope my experiences can help other people too. Thanks for understanding.
I first heard about the contraceptive implant through my good friend Hannah a few years ago, telling me she’d met someone who had it fitted and basically what it was all about. It sounded like a fantastic idea – a small rod, around the size of a match-stick, in your arm that stops you getting pregnant for 3 years. How amazing! At that time though I didn’t really feel the need to have such a long term contraception, so although I thought i was good I didn’t think it was necessary.
Few years down the line I find myself in a serious relationship, working full-time, living away from home and occasionally (almost!) forgetting to take my pill.
Cue me deciding to get the implant!
I did a lot of research (online, speaking to my doctor and medical leaflets) and read a lot of reviews on Ciao, as well as talking to Hannah who had her own implant fitted about 6 months before. It seemed like there was loads of possible disadvantages associated with the implant but having not experienced some of the common ones from the pill, I took the risk hoping I’d be one of the lucky girls who had no problems, no periods and no babies!
In June 2009 I headed to my local clinic and spoke to the lovely doctor who said I was an ideal person for the implant and had it fitted on the same day. (She of course asked lots of health questions and analysed whether it was the right option for me.).
The procedure was more than easy. A quick jab of local anesthetic to numb the area (with a slight pinch of the jab’s needle that wore off as soon as the anesthetic took place) and the doctor then inserted the implant. Done! She let me have a little feel of it under the skin just so I knew where it was and how to check that it hadn’t moved after healing. A quick bandage up and I was ready to go!
Things were fantastic! I didn’t have a period for 6 weeks and when I did it was very light. I didn’t seem to be suffering any side effects and the only thing that was an issue was the fact my boyfriend got freaked out at the thought of something being in my arm.
A couple of months down the line things started to change. I got my period and it lasted longer than usual. Sometimes up to 3 weeks and only stopping for 2 days maximum. My sex drive pretty much disappeared and I felt like I was experiencing permanent PMS. Some days I would be fine, other I’d find myself crying at the smallest of things (eg. charity appeal adverts!), I’d find myself being tired and worn out for no reason and getting touchy with every little thing – and my poor boyfriend would get about 80% of it.
My rapid changes in mood were probably the hardest side affect to deal with but the other main problem I had with the implant is changes to my body. I didn’t experienced any weight gain/loss – apart from occasionally feeling quite bloated – but my skin has became similar to a girl who’s just hit puberty and not yet discovered face wash. This was a massive deal for me as since I was 11 years old I’d been mad on skin care, probably spending thousands of pounds on it. So having skin that had more than one spot every now and then was been hard to deal with. I also found myself needing to epilate my underarms and legs more often, yet more hair from my head seems to be clogging up the bath plug. All happening in the 4 months I was fitted with the implant.
They say you should stick with the implant for at least 6 months to give your body a chance to adjust to it but 4 months down the line things seemed to be getting worse. I initially thought that the pros (an extremely reliable birth control, not having to remember pills) could out-way the cons (irregular periods, non sex-drive, mood-swings, bad skin, changes to hair/body) but I eventully came to the decision that the contraceptive implant isn’t for me.
I had it removed in October 2009 and the removal was just as easy as the insertion (if not easier!). A small cut in the skin and out it popped. Same bandage routine, however the bruising and after pain was definatly worse – but only lasts a few days maximum. I went straight on the pill afterwards but later decided to give my body a rest from contraception and hopefully return to normal periods. My bodies still not 100% the same (my skins still not returned to it’s previous state) but I’m hoping with time that will sort itself out.
For more information on the Implanon implant and other contraception check out these sites:
Implanon.com; the official website of the Implanon implant.
Ciao.co.uk; good, un-bias reviews.
Patient.co.uk; more of the medical side of the implant.
