Are There Alternatives To The Birth Control Implant
Yes, there are a number of other birth control options for women available. If you are looking to obtain birth control, you will most likely need to have a consultation with your doctor first. They will discuss all of the options available to you and determine which method is best suited for your lifestyle. Some other available options include:
How Effective Is The Implant At Preventing Pregnancy
The implant is a very effective method of long acting contraception, and while no form of contraception is completely failsafe, using it makes the risk of a woman getting pregnant far less likely.
It is estimated that 84% of women would get pregnant within a year if they had regular, unprotected intercourse.1
For women using the contraceptive implant, the chances of getting pregnant are less than 1%, providing the implant has been in place for less than three years. So, for every 100 women with an implant having intercourse, less than one will become pregnant over the course of one year.2
This number is similar to the efficacy of the combined oral contraceptive pill .
While your implant is in place, it releases a steady amount of the hormone progesterone. However, the amount it releases decreases slightly year on year. This is why it needs replacing after three years. Research has shown that during this three-year period, for women of a healthy body weight, the implant becomes no less effective at preventing pregnancy however.3
Other methods of contraception including the copper coil, the Mirena coil, and the contraceptive injection, all have similar failure rates to the implant. If you compare this to the withdrawal method, which has a 27% rate of pregnancy within a year when used typically,5 you will see why this is not a recommended method of contraception.
What Are The Chances Of Getting Pregnant On Nexplanon Without Condom
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Can Anyone Have A Nexplanon
Most women who want a Nexplanon can have it.
Conditions which may mean you may not be suitable for Nexplanon.
- Now or in the past you have had breast cancer
- You have had certain types of liver disease
- You have bleeding between the periods or after sex and you have not seen a doctor or nurse about this, or you have seen a doctor or nurse but you are still waiting to be told why this is happening
- You have certain rheumatic diseases
- Also you should stop using Nexplanon if you have a heart attack or stroke
Can I Get Pregnant After Implant Removal
Once the contraceptive implant is removed your normal fertility will return to normal and you may be at risk of pregnancy. If you would like to learn more about the process of removing the implant, then check out our full guide on contraceptive implant fitting and removal.
If youre looking for further information on this form of contraception, then our blog on the contraceptive implant everything you need to know covers fitting and removal plus pros and cons of this method of contraception.
Other sources:
Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health
Reviewed and edited on 04/02/21in line with our content policy.
This guide was brought to you by The Lowdown. We are the worlds first contraception review platform, providing real-life experiences from thousands of reviews collected from our community of men and women.
Why not leave us a review of your contraceptive experience? Whether youve got good things to say about the Mirena coil or had trouble with implant removal, we want to hear about it! Tell us about your experience and help people around the world find the right method for them.
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The Cost Of Nexplanon
Nexplanon is a type of birth control for women. It is inserted in the arm and lasts up to three years. It is manufactured by Organon, who currently makes the only available form of the implant. The listing price on their website is $1,030.64, as of August 2021. This is the price it is sold to wholesalers or purchasers in the United States, and most likely does not reflect the out-of-pocket cost you will pay, which is ultimately determined by insurance.
The Affordable Care Act covers the cost of one type of birth control of any of the FDA-approved contraceptive methods. If you have insurance, no copay or coinsurance will be paid, even if your deductible hasnât been met. Medicaid covers the cost of Nexplanon, but only 25 states have extended coverage to family planning services. Therefore, if you donât have insurance, or qualify for Medicaid, you could face high costs, for a Nexplanon implant.
Should You Use The Same Type Of Birth Control You Used Before You Got Pregnant
It depends some methods are more effective and comfortable pre-pregnancy and some are incompatible with nursing.
For example, some women who love their diaphragm before giving birth feel afterward that the spermicide is uncomfortable or drying. Do you find it inconvenient that you have to be re-fitted after birth to make sure it fits you properly ? Next, please!
Its also possible your period will change after pregnancy, though whether its for the better or worse is variable. Some women find that their cramps are much less severe once theyve had a baby, while others have the opposite experience.
If youre one of the unlucky ones, you may want to opt for a hormonal IUD or the pill, which will lessen the severity of your symptoms . Skip the Paragard since heavy, longer periods is a common side effect at least for the first few months.
And of course if youre breastfeeding, your hormonal birth control options are limited to the mini-pill and others without estrogen.
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How Long Does It Take For The Birth Control Implant To Work
If you get Nexplanon during the first 5 days of your period, youre protected from pregnancy right away.
If you get the implant at any other time in your cycle, use some other form of birth control during the first week. After that first week, the implant starts working and youre protected from pregnancy for up to 5 years. Thats why its called get-it-and-forget-it birth control.
Is Nexplanon Bad For You
With most birth control methods, there are potential risks and side effects to using the birth control implant. Most commonly, women tend to experience changes in their menstrual bleeding, including spotting, longer/shorter bleeding during your period, and varying amounts of time between periods. Some women have also experienced weight gain, mood swings, acne, breast pain, and vaginitis. Everyone reacts differently, however, so there is no sure way to tell which, if any, side effects you will experience.
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If You Take Antibiotics While On The Pill
Theres a big, fat warning label on every pill packet that says taking antibiotics may lessen the efficacy of the pill, but many people dont read the fine print. However, theres only one antibiotic thats been proven to interfere with the pill: rifampin, which is used to treat tuberculosis and bacterial infections. Scientists claim that there isnt an issue when using other antibiotics. Their take is that pregnancy may occur because people may skip a pill or two when theyre not feeling well, or their bodies may not be able to absorb the hormones properly if theyre vomiting or have diarrhea. All that said, I know a decent number of pill-popping moms whove gotten pregnant while on antibiotics, so you probably dont want to chance it.
What Are The Advantages
- Long acting it lasts for up to five years
- Reversible you can choose to have it taken out at any time. After that, you will be able to get pregnant again
- 99% effective it works very well
- You dont need to think about contraception every day
Studies show that implants do not cause any change in your weight, mood, sex drive, or give you headaches.
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Who Can Use The Implant
Most women can be fitted with the contraceptive implant.
It may not be suitable if you:
- think you might be pregnant
- donât want your periods to change
- take other medicines that may affect the implant
- have unexplained bleeding in between periods or after sex
- have arterial disease or a history of heart disease or stroke
- have liver disease
- have breast cancer or have had it in the past
- have a medical condition that may affect which contraception you can use speak to your GP or practice nurse, or visit your nearest sexual health clinic to discuss further
Advantage Of Using Nexplanon
Nexplanon is convenient and effective as it is a one-time use method that needs to be replaced in 3-5 years.
- It is 99% effective and long-term protection against pregnancy. It works as well as IUDs and sterilization. There can be no errors in the use, and there are no repercussions like the pill if you forget to take it.
- The implant is private and convenient. Once its inside, you dont have to think about it and it will work until expiration or removal. This also means that there is no pill to take daily or a ring to put, no trips to the pharmacy for contraception, and you can have sex any time you want. The implant is not visible against the skin, so no one needs to know you are on it, keeping your privacy intact.
- Nexplanon has only one hormone in it, whereas many hormonal birth control devices and methods use two hormones estrogen and progestin. Some women with health issues cannot use estrogen. So, they can freely use Nexplanon as it is estrogen-free.
- These implants can make the menstrual cycle better for women. Nexplanon helps in reducing period cramps and pain. The periods one does get is also quite light, and one-third of the users stop getting the period after one year.
- Fertility is not affected if you remove this implant. Women can get pregnant again after removing the implant. It is a reversible birth control method. It is very much possible that the woman gets pregnant as soon as the implant is out.
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Nexplanon Costs Around $900 Without Insurance
Without insurance, the cost of one Nexplanon implant is around $900. But most health insurance plans will cover it. You may, however, be responsible for costs associated with the insertion and removal procedures.
By comparison, an IUD may cost up to $1,300 and the pill can cost $20-50 per pack. But because of the Affordable Care Act, most birth control methods are fully covered and cost $0 out of pocket.
To see if you’re covered for Nexplanon, or any other form of birth control, contact your health insurance provider.
Can I Get Pregnant If I Have Implanon The Birth Control Implant
Can i still get pregnant if i have the Implanon?
Implanon is the old brand name for the birth control implant. Its now available under the brand name Nexplanon. The implant is one of the most effective birth control methods out there its more than 99% effective. That means fewer than 1 out of 100 people who use the implant get pregnant each year.
The implant works by releasing the hormone progestin into your body. Progestin prevents pregnancy by keeping your ovaries from releasing eggs . Pregnancy cant happen if theres no egg to join with sperm. Progestin also thickens the mucus in your cervix, which blocks sperm.
For most people who use the implant, periods become fewer and lighter. Some people worry that theyre pregnant if they dont have a regular period, but this is a common side effect of the implant and doesnt mean youre pregnant. If you use the implant, you can be confident that the chances of pregnancy are very very low.
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You Can Have It Removed At Any Time
If you change your mind and want to become pregnant before the implant expires, you can make an appointment with your doctor to have the implant removed. Depending upon where you are in your menstrual cycle when you have it removed, you can become fertile immediately. The Nexplanon implant will not affect your fertility or make it harder for you to get pregnant in the future.
Correlation Between Implanon Birth Control Implant And Panic Attacks
Has anyone heard of the correlation between the birth control implant and severe anxiety and depression? I have had the implant place in Feb, and panic attacks have started with a vengeance, everyday and sometimes multiple times in a day for almost a month. I have read articles that it can cause an increase in anxiety and blood pressure . Does anyone else have experience with this?
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What Is Nexplanon
Nexplanon is a etonogestrel implant. It is birth control implant that controls pregnancy for up to three years and is said to be effective 99% of the time. Nexplanon is a thin, flexible and small arm implant that is in the size of a match stick. It is a long action birth control method. Nexplanon is placed carefully under the skin of your inner upper arm, by your by your health care provider. It is totally reversible and you can get pregnant after its removal.
How Is It Removed
While the lifespan of the Nexplanon birth control implant is three to five years, you may need to take out the implant soonerfor example, if you are trying to get pregnant, or if you decide that the side effects dont outweigh the benefits of the implant.
Like its insertion, the birth control implant removal process is quick, with minimum pain or discomfort, and relatively straightforward. However, it will take a little bit more time to remove your implant than it did to have it inserted. To remove it, your healthcare provider will numb your upper arm and make a small incision at the site of the implant. Then, using special tools, he or she will pull the small rod out of your arm and use steri-strips or sutures to close the incision site. At this point, you can have another implant put in immediately if you wish to continue using Nexplanon as your main method of birth control.
Once your contraceptive implant is out, you may experience soreness or bruising around the incision site. Make sure to follow the instructions that your healthcare provider gives you for washing and caring for the area to avoid infection or scarring. Youll have to skip heavy weights once again to make sure you dont disrupt the healing process.
After the implant is removed, youll be able to conceive immediately. If youre not trying to get pregnant, youll need to get another implant or use a different method of birth control.
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Risks & Side Effects Of Nexplanon
Nexplanon can have side effects, and the most common one is a changing menstrual bleeding pattern. One out of ten women may have to stop using Nexplanon because of this change.
A woman can experience spotting between menstrual cycles, different time periods in between the cycles. There can be times when there are no regular gaps, shorter or longer cycles, or no bleeding at the time of the period. Women must tell their healthcare provider if they think they are pregnant or if the bleeding goes on long and heavy.
Other side effects of Nexplanon can be:
- Headache
- Viral infection or flu-type symptoms
- Nervousness
- Pain at the insertion site
- Dizziness
Are There Any Side Effects From Implantable Contraception
Contraceptive implants can sometimes cause such side effects as:
Some of these side effects may go away after a few months.
Sometimes there can be irritation, infection, or scarring where the tube was placed.
Implantable contraception increases the risk of blood clots. Blood clots can lead to serious problems with the lungs, heart, and brain. Smoking cigarettes while using the implant can increase the risk of blood clots. Donât smoke if you use implantable contraception or another form of hormonal birth control.
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How Is A Contraceptive Implant Fitted Or Removed
A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area on the inside of your upper arm.
The implant is then inserted under your skin it only takes a few minutes to put in and feels like having an injection. You wont need any stitches after your implant has been fitted.
Nexplanon works for 3 years before it needs to be replaced. You can use this method until you reach the menopause, when a womans monthly periods stop naturally.
The implant can be removed at any time by a specially trained doctor or nurse. It only takes a few minutes to remove, and a local anaesthetic will be used. The doctor or nurse will make a tiny cut in your skin to gently pull the implant out.
As soon as the implant has been removed, youll no longer be protected against pregnancy.
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