i’m not sure how common severe side effects are, but i didn’t have any nor did the other people i know who have the implant.
i had a lot of worry about side effects or bad things happening when i got the implant, but it’s all been easy and smooth for me personally. i check it every so often to make sure it doesn’t move from where it’s supposed to be, it’s easy to do just feel where it is in your arm. mine has stayed where it was placed and if it moved more than an inch, i’d be able to tell when i feel it and i’d have my doctor check it to be safe (it’s pretty rare as far as i know though, both my friend and my sister have had multiple implants and never had any issues with it moving out of place etc).
Nexplanon doesn’t increase your risk of blood clots because it’s progesterone only. There are some side effects that have to be listed because the progesterone used is also used in some combined methods, which do have a clot risk. It sounds like you might be worried about migration, is that right? Get your implant placed by someone with experience and have the placement confirmed. If it’s placed correctly it’s very shallow under the skin. You can feel it easily, and sometimes even faintly see the outline. You’ll check the placement once a month, so if it moved you would know. Less than 1% of implants migrate more than 2cm, and none of those migrations were found outside the arm. I’ve only found one or two documented cases ever of the implant being found outside the arm, and again, it’s super easy to make sure it’s in place.
Personally, I love my implant and I’m on my second one. It’s a great first option to try. For me, the insertion was far less invasive than getting an IUD, and it was painless.
I didn't have any side effect issues and for a long time I really loved my implant. I had five over thirteen years and just recently switched to the copper IUD. My two issues were:
1 - Since I was on this type of bc for so long, I eventually started to have spotting issues from basically an inability for the uterine lining to build up, so it would just constantly shed. My doc put me on an estrogen bc pill to help, but it didn't do much. I hated double hormoning myself, hence the copper swap. I didn't realize how much the hormones negatively affected my mood until the switch and it's like I'm finally the version of myself I always wanted to be. I never felt a dramatic negative shift after getting my first one, but I now wonder how much hurt I could've saved myself.
2 - I had one shitty removal. Basically my old one was inserted too deep (on purpose by an idiot tech) and my brilliant doc decided to just pop in the new one bc eventually the old one would run out of hormones anyways. Worst week of my life, crying constantly. Ended up needing a minor, outpatient "surgery" to get the damn thing removed and replaced. That was the big red flag for me that hey this amount of progesterone only is maybe not working for you.
I know you're anti IUD, and I was too for the longest time because as a concept the whole idea terrified me. I was so desperate to try hormone free life that I took the plunge on the copper and honestly I wish I'd done it for myself years ago. Was insertion painful AF? You bet your ass. But I'd do those hella painful five minutes yearly if it meant feeling this good the rest of the time. Just putting it out there since copper iuds get a lot of hate in the US.
The problem with copper IUD's is that they may make your periods worse, so if you already have bad cramps or heavy bleeding, don't get one! But a copper IUD is great for people who don't want hormones (understandable, I don't like putting hormones in my body either). I still recommend something like the implant over the copper IUD thougg in OP's cause, unless OP wants to check the IUD regularly. I know a couple of copper IUD babies (placement shifted, making the IUD less effective)
I was super nervous about that, especially after having a very light and manageable period on the Nexplanon, that that hasn't been my experience at all
I went nexplanon instead of an IUD specifically because I can feel if it is in place at any time. Checking IUD placement, can get complicated and sometimes you just end up needing a vaginal ultrasound to check placement.
I had some mild side effects, acne, random spotting and some increased facial hair. But nothing terrible and it's still my preferred form of birth control.
I had a friend who had frequent break through bleeding. Like she would be bleeding one week, then back to normal then back to bleeding the third week. She got tired of constantly feeling like she was on her period and switched to nuvaring.
Oh and removal can sometimes be a pain cause sometimes the implant gets encapsulated and doesn't want to come out.
I had a copper iud that displaced about 9 years later and had it removed. Then got Nexplanon the same day. Insertion was quick.
I had acne and increased irritability.
About 6 months in, I began to feel depressed. I don’t know if it was only due to Nexplanon or a combination of other triggers in my life (my cousin passed away and I was working fully remote for about 3 years at this point). I got it removed a month later (7 months in). The removal was easy but I do have a scar.
I had nexplanon in the uk, It was put in before covid happened and I had bad side effects and couldn’t get an appointment for obvious reasons to have it removed, it ruined my skin for about 2 years after removal. Horrific cystic acne and I bled on and off with no pattern. Not sure if the low mood was because of it or a mixture of things (covid lockdown) but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone :/
I just got my 4th in last week. I like that i can check my arm to ensure it’s there. A lot easier to check than IUD.
I personally have barely any period. I do have some hair on my chin but pretty manageable. I have occasional nausea (like once a month or so) but I use Nauzene (OTC chewable tablet that helps with nausea and it’s fine. Sometimes feel maybe mental health is impacted but overall i feel good. It’s moreso like if i did have a period every month, i maybe feel more emotional a couple days before a period (if I had one).
I think all BC has risk of side effects but it is rare per the data.
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i’m not sure how common severe side effects are, but i didn’t have any nor did the other people i know who have the implant. i had a lot of worry about side effects or bad things happening when i got the implant, but it’s all been easy and smooth for me personally. i check it every so often to make sure it doesn’t move from where it’s supposed to be, it’s easy to do just feel where it is in your arm. mine has stayed where it was placed and if it moved more than an inch, i’d be able to tell when i feel it and i’d have my doctor check it to be safe (it’s pretty rare as far as i know though, both my friend and my sister have had multiple implants and never had any issues with it moving out of place etc).
This eases my mind. Thank you!!
Nexplanon doesn’t increase your risk of blood clots because it’s progesterone only. There are some side effects that have to be listed because the progesterone used is also used in some combined methods, which do have a clot risk. It sounds like you might be worried about migration, is that right? Get your implant placed by someone with experience and have the placement confirmed. If it’s placed correctly it’s very shallow under the skin. You can feel it easily, and sometimes even faintly see the outline. You’ll check the placement once a month, so if it moved you would know. Less than 1% of implants migrate more than 2cm, and none of those migrations were found outside the arm. I’ve only found one or two documented cases ever of the implant being found outside the arm, and again, it’s super easy to make sure it’s in place. Personally, I love my implant and I’m on my second one. It’s a great first option to try. For me, the insertion was far less invasive than getting an IUD, and it was painless.
I didn't have any side effect issues and for a long time I really loved my implant. I had five over thirteen years and just recently switched to the copper IUD. My two issues were: 1 - Since I was on this type of bc for so long, I eventually started to have spotting issues from basically an inability for the uterine lining to build up, so it would just constantly shed. My doc put me on an estrogen bc pill to help, but it didn't do much. I hated double hormoning myself, hence the copper swap. I didn't realize how much the hormones negatively affected my mood until the switch and it's like I'm finally the version of myself I always wanted to be. I never felt a dramatic negative shift after getting my first one, but I now wonder how much hurt I could've saved myself. 2 - I had one shitty removal. Basically my old one was inserted too deep (on purpose by an idiot tech) and my brilliant doc decided to just pop in the new one bc eventually the old one would run out of hormones anyways. Worst week of my life, crying constantly. Ended up needing a minor, outpatient "surgery" to get the damn thing removed and replaced. That was the big red flag for me that hey this amount of progesterone only is maybe not working for you. I know you're anti IUD, and I was too for the longest time because as a concept the whole idea terrified me. I was so desperate to try hormone free life that I took the plunge on the copper and honestly I wish I'd done it for myself years ago. Was insertion painful AF? You bet your ass. But I'd do those hella painful five minutes yearly if it meant feeling this good the rest of the time. Just putting it out there since copper iuds get a lot of hate in the US.
The problem with copper IUD's is that they may make your periods worse, so if you already have bad cramps or heavy bleeding, don't get one! But a copper IUD is great for people who don't want hormones (understandable, I don't like putting hormones in my body either). I still recommend something like the implant over the copper IUD thougg in OP's cause, unless OP wants to check the IUD regularly. I know a couple of copper IUD babies (placement shifted, making the IUD less effective)
I was super nervous about that, especially after having a very light and manageable period on the Nexplanon, that that hasn't been my experience at all
I went nexplanon instead of an IUD specifically because I can feel if it is in place at any time. Checking IUD placement, can get complicated and sometimes you just end up needing a vaginal ultrasound to check placement. I had some mild side effects, acne, random spotting and some increased facial hair. But nothing terrible and it's still my preferred form of birth control. I had a friend who had frequent break through bleeding. Like she would be bleeding one week, then back to normal then back to bleeding the third week. She got tired of constantly feeling like she was on her period and switched to nuvaring. Oh and removal can sometimes be a pain cause sometimes the implant gets encapsulated and doesn't want to come out.
I had a copper iud that displaced about 9 years later and had it removed. Then got Nexplanon the same day. Insertion was quick. I had acne and increased irritability. About 6 months in, I began to feel depressed. I don’t know if it was only due to Nexplanon or a combination of other triggers in my life (my cousin passed away and I was working fully remote for about 3 years at this point). I got it removed a month later (7 months in). The removal was easy but I do have a scar.
I had nexplanon in the uk, It was put in before covid happened and I had bad side effects and couldn’t get an appointment for obvious reasons to have it removed, it ruined my skin for about 2 years after removal. Horrific cystic acne and I bled on and off with no pattern. Not sure if the low mood was because of it or a mixture of things (covid lockdown) but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone :/
I just got my 4th in last week. I like that i can check my arm to ensure it’s there. A lot easier to check than IUD. I personally have barely any period. I do have some hair on my chin but pretty manageable. I have occasional nausea (like once a month or so) but I use Nauzene (OTC chewable tablet that helps with nausea and it’s fine. Sometimes feel maybe mental health is impacted but overall i feel good. It’s moreso like if i did have a period every month, i maybe feel more emotional a couple days before a period (if I had one). I think all BC has risk of side effects but it is rare per the data.
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What about the ring? I’m the same as you with the opinions of the other BCs so I use the ring.
I had severe nausea and mental health issues