Birth Control Implant Implanon

Birth control implants are devices that go under the skin of a woman, they release a hormone that prevents pregnancy.

Two similar implants available in the US are Implanon and Nexplanon, which is gradually replacing Implanon.

Each implant is a plastic stick the size of a match. The bars contain a form of the hormone progesterone called etonogestrel.

What To Expect In The Doctor's OfficeYour doctor or other health care provider will inject medicine to put your skin on the upper arm where you will receive the implant.

That can be a bit stuck.

Then they will use a device that pushes the rod through a needle, that will not hurt, it feels like a bit tugging, the insertion process may take less than a minute.

After that, you should be able to feel the implant under your skin but not see it.

How Long Does It Work? You can use a birth control implant for up to 3 years. Then you have to replace it.

The removal may take only a few minutes or 20 minutes, depending on how much scar tissue has formed. Your health care provider numbs your skin and makes a small incision near the top of the implant, then it pulls out.

Implanon Vs. NexplanonImplant maker Merck beats Implanon and replaces it with Nexplanon.

The two implants are nearly identical, but the Nexplanon inserter is simpler and avoids placing the implant too deeply under the skin.

The Nexplanon staff was also designed to be X-rays. If you doctor can feel you under the skin, the X-ray can show if it's in the right place.

What Are The Advantages?

As with any type of birth control method, implants have both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages are:

• Effective Less than 1 in 100 women with an implant get pregnant every year.
• Easy to handle. Unlike some other birth control options - such as condoms, patches, shots, rings and pills - the implant works no matter what. You do not have to worry about misusing or remembering, replacing or taking often.
• Fast Reversal If you want to get pregnant, you can start right after taking the implant out.
• Less painful periods. In studies of women with implants, painful periods got better.

What Are The Disadvantages?

Possible disadvantages of birth control implants are:

• Costs. You may have to pay about $ 600 or more for a test and the implant and $ 100 or more to remove it.
• No protection against STD s Unlike some other forms of birth control, such as condoms, birth control implants do not prevent HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Use a condom for that.

What Are The Risks Of Birth Control Implants?

Possible side effects are problems from the insertion process, such as:

• pain
• fluctuation or swelling
• reddening
• infection
• scar

With Implanon, there is a chance that it will be harder to remove if placed too low. Nexplanon's newer inserter is designed to reduce this risk.

Other possible side effects are:

• Irregular menstrual bleeding
• Depression and other mood changes
• Increase in weight
• Abdominal pain or nausea
• Acne
• Chest pain, back pain or headache
• Vaginitis
• Dizziness

Can A Woman Use This Method Of Birth Control?

Some women should not use birth control implants, including women who are already pregnant and those with:

• Sensitivity to a part of the implant
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Breast cancer (now or in the past)
• Liver disease or liver tumors
• History of blood clots (deep venous thrombosis)

Use with caution if you:

• have diabetes
• high cholesterol level
• convulsive disorder
• you ever have depression

Also, it is not clear if the implants are so effective when one is 'obese'.

Some medications can make birth control implants less effective. Ask your doctor about it.

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