Can You Get Pregnant On The Birth Control Implant
According to Planned Parenthood, the birth control implant, Nexplanon, is one of the most effective forms of birth control. It is over 99% effective, meaning fewer than 1 in every 100 women who use it will get pregnant. Once the implant is inserted in your arm, you do not have to worry about remembering to take it or use it unlike other forms of birth control, like the pill or condoms. The birth control implant lasts up to five years if you decide you want to get pregnant, you can have it removed at any time, and you will be able to get pregnant right away. For all these reasons, it is a reliable, convenient, and effective form of birth control.
Discuss questions like Can you get pregnant on the birth control implant? with a gynecologist. Book online today!
When To Remove A Contraceptive Implant If You Are Pregnant
Equally, if you develop stomach pain, you must see your doctor urgently to rule out any chance of an ectopic pregnancy. There is good evidence to show that implants do not cause birth defects and will not cause harm to a developing pregnancy. However, it is suggested that in this situation the implant is removed as soon as possible. 6
Risks Of Using Nexplanon
Nexplanon has very few risk factors. One of the main risks is that it does not give protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
You need to use a condom even after being on nexplanon to prevent being infected by STDs. Sometimes signs of pregnancy on nexplanon may arise due to other complications than pregnancy.
The side effects of using birth control implant include the following:
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Is It Possible To Get Pregnant On Nexplanon
The chances of being pregnant are rare, even if youre overweight. I believe your Doctor wouldnt prescribe you a certain kind of birth control if they didnt think it would be right for you! Im 21 Ive had this implant since May 2014 I told them I wantes the threw year that would make May 2016 when it should be removed.
What Happens If You Get Pregnant While Using An Implant
If you do become pregnant while using the implant, it is important to see your doctor as soon as you can. Equally, if you develop stomach pain, you must see your doctor urgently to rule out any chance of an ectopic pregnancy. There is good evidence to show that implants do not cause birth defects and will not cause harm to a developing pregnancy.
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What Happens If Youre Pregnant On Nexplanon
If you are pregnant while on Nexplanon than you have higher chances that you pregnancy will be ectopic than the women who do not use birth control. Ectopic Ectopic pregnancy A condition where fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus. pregnancy occurs when the fertilized eggs gets attached to any place other than the uterus .
Unintended Pregnancy With Implantable Subdermal Contraceptive Device : A Case Report
Shadi Rezai,1
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1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern California Kaiser Permanente, USA2St Georges University, School of Medicine, Grenada3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, USA4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Comprehensive Medical Care of the Bronx, USA5Takeshige Medical, PO Box 121, Edgewater, New Jersey, 07020, USA
Correspondence: Shadi Rezai MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern California Kaiser Permanente, Kern County, 1200 Discovery Drive, Bakersfield, California, 93309, USA, Tel 7185795000
Citation: Rezai SMD, Patel NDBS, Hughes BSN, Shumaker LVNII, Pandya BRMD, et al. Unintended Pregnancy with Implantable Subdermal Contraceptive Device : A Case Report. Obstet Gynecol Int J 9: 00299. DOI: 10.15406/ogij.2018.09.00299
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What To Do If You Cant Feel The Nexplanon Implant
If you cannot feel the NEXPLANON implant, contact your healthcare provider immediately and use a non-hormonal birth control method until your healthcare provider confirms that the implant is in place. You may need special tests to check that the implant is in place or to help find the implant when it is time to take it out.
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How Is A Nexplanon Inserted
Nexplanon is about the size of a short kirby grip. A specially trained doctor or nurse will insert it under the skin of your upper arm. A cold numbing spray or an injection of local anaesthetic into the skin to numb the area will be used to so that inserting the Nexplanon will not hurt. You will not have any stitches and it will only take a few minutes. The area may be a bit sore and bruised but it will have a dressing on it to help keep it clean and dry. Try not to knock it. After a few days you can remove the dressing and once healed you really should not be aware that it is there. You should be able to do all the things you would normally do with your arm. Usually you cannot see the Nexplanon but you are normally able to feel it.
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How Soon Can I Get Pregnant After Nexplanon Is Removed
Immediately! The body becomes fertile as soon as Nexplanon is removed. With this said, however, keep in mind that youve had a long-acting form of birth control in your body . It can take up to 3 months for ovulation to return.
Nexplanon has also been working to thin the lining of your uterus, potentially making it more difficult for an embryo to implant immediately after Nexplanon is removed. It thickens back up quickly for most women , but it is best to give it a couple of cycles to recuperate. Dont be discouraged if pregnancy does not happen immediately, and keep in mind that pregnancy immediately of removal could carry a slightly increased risk for miscarriage.
If you have been using Nexplanon or other forms of birth control for many years, also keep in mind that age affects egg quality and chance of pregnancy. Every year after about age 25 your fertility slowly declines, making it ever so slightly more difficult to get pregnant as you age. Be patient with your body. Give it a full year of trying before considering infertility.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Nexplanon
Your periods are likely to change. In some women the periods will stop completely. Some women will have irregular periods or spotting between the periods and others may have bleeding that lasts a long time and can be heavy. See below for more information about what to do if you have problems with your bleeding.
Problems with your bleeding.
If you have problems with bleeding then discuss it with your doctor or nurse. They may wish to check the bleeding is not due to some other causes, such as infection. If the bleeding is thought to be due to the Nexplanon sometimes the best things is to wait and see since it can settle by itself. If the bleeding is very troublesome it may be that some tablets would help to control it. If you do decide to have your Nexplanon removed the bleeding problems should settle quite quickly
- When you start any contraception which contains hormones, you may get some annoying side effects in the first few months. With Nexplanon these include spotty skin, sore breasts, headaches, changes in mood and sex drive. These symptoms normally stop within a few months. Speak to your doctor or nurse if you have any concerns.
- Nexplanon will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections and many women continue to use condoms.
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Myth: Getting An Implant Is Painful And Could Cause Infection
Some women who seek family planning believe that the insertion of implants requires surgery or that insertion is painful and causes infection. They may also have misconceptions about the removal of implants.
Fact: No stitches, no noticeable scar, and it can be removed at any time
Health professionals with specific training perform a minor surgical procedure to insert implants. The provider gives the patient an injection of local anesthetic under the skin of her arm to prevent pain while the implants are inserted. This injection may sting. The woman remains fully awake during the procedure. Insertion takes an average of 4 to 5 minutes for Norplant, 2.5 minutes for Jadelle, and 1.5 minutes for Implanon. Insertion can take more or less time, depending on the skill of the provider.
The incision is small and stitches are not required. In most cases, insertion does not leave a noticeable scar. Once inserted, the outline of the implants underneath the skin can be felt and sometimes seen. The woman may have bruising and feel pain or soreness for a few days afterward.
Infection at the insertion site can occur, but is uncommon. When infection occurs, it is usually within the first two months after insertion. In rare cases, implants may start to come out of the skin. When this occurs, it is usually due to improper insertion or infection.
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Can You Ovulate On Nexplanon
Nexplanon is a hormone implant that prevents ovulation . This medication also causes changes in the cervical mucus and uterine lining making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.
The implant is very safe for most people but all medications have some risks and side effects. The doctor will figure out if the implant is safe or not. This is 99% effective.
References
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How Does It Work
A health care provider places the implant under the skin of your upper arm, which takes only 1-2 minutes. Once inserted, the implant continuously releases a small amount of hormone into your body.
The hormone prevents pregnancy by:
- Preventing ovulation . If an egg is not released, it cannot be fertilized by sperm.
- Thickening the cervical mucus, which blocks the sperm from reaching an egg and fertilizing it.
- Thinning the lining of the uterus, which prevents a fertilized egg from attaching to the wall of the uterus.
Nexplanon® can be used for up to 3 years. After 3 years the hormone supply runs out and the implant stops working, which means it must be removed. If you would like to continue using this method of birth control, you have to get a new implant. Your health care provider can insert a new implant when removing the old one.
If you change your mind at any time and decide you would like to stop using the implant, your health care provider can remove it for you. Removal takes about 3 minutes.
What Are The Chances Of Pregnancy After Implant Removal
Like the combined pill and other contraceptive methods, the implant has no impact on your fertility. Once the contraceptive implant is removed, your normal level of fertility will return and you may be at risk of pregnancy. The only contraceptive that shows a link between delaying return to fertility after use is the injection but dont worry, its only short-term. After 2 years there is no significant difference in pregnancy rates when compared with users of non-hormonal contraception.
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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. Don’t smoke if you use implantable contraception or another form of hormonal birth control.
What About If I Am Being Prescribed Certain Medications
There are certain medications that will make the contraceptive implant less effective. This includes some HIV, epilepsy and tuberculosis medications, St Johns Wort and certain antibiotics such as rifabutin or rifampicin.
We recommend having a conversation with your doctor to ensure that any medication you are taking will not affect the effectiveness of your implant. If your medication does affect this method then we would recommend looking for another method of contraception that isnt affected by your medication.
Unsure which method is right for you? Speak to our friendly doctors at The Lowdown and get personalised contraceptive advice in a one-to-one appointment.
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Who Can Use Implantable Contraception
Girls who want long-term protection against pregnancy may be interested in implantable contraception.
Not all women can or should use the implant. Some health conditions make it less effective or more risky to use. The implant is not recommended for those who have had:
- blood clots
- unexplained vaginal bleeding
- some types of cancer
Girls who have diabetes, migraine headaches, depression, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, gallbladder problems, seizures, kidney disease, or other medical problems should talk with their doctor.
Anyone who thinks she might be pregnant should not have a contraceptive implant inserted.
Myth: Health Risks And Side Effects
Some women who seek family planning do not want to use implants because they have misconceptions about implants causing illness or problems such as cancer, blindness, or birth defects.
Fact: Implants have several known health benefits
In addition to changes in menstrual bleeding, the most common side effects of implants are headaches, abdominal pain, and breast tenderness. These side effects are not an indication of illness and usually lessen or go away within the first year of use. Studies have not shown increased risk of cancer, blindness or birth defects with the use of implants.
They have been shown to greatly reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy and protect against symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease. Implants may also help protect against iron-deficiency anemia.
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How Well Does Implantable Contraception Work
Implantable contraception is a very effective method of birth control. Over the course of 1 year, fewer than 1 out of 100 typical couples using the implant will have an accidental pregnancy. The chances of getting pregnant increase if a girl waits longer than 3 years to replace the tube. So its important to keep a record of when a tube was inserted, and:
- Get a new contraceptive implant on schedule. or
- Have the old tube removed and switch to another birth control method.
In general, how well each birth control method works depends on a lot of things. These include whether a girl has any health conditions or is taking medicines or herbal supplements that might affect its use. For example, some antibiotics or herbs like St. Johns wort can affect how well implantable contraception works.
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What Should You Avoid When Using
When you are using Nexplanon implant, avoid smoking. This is because smoking elevates your chances of developing blood clots, serious complications like stroke, and heart attack. These risks increase with age the older you are, the more risky you are to develop blood clots and stroke or heart attack. Hence, when you are over 35 years of age and smoking, do not use Nexplanon implant.
Nexplanon implant cannot protect you against sexually transmitted infections. Use a condom to protect you against STIs.
Reference List
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What Happens During The Implantation
What happens:
- To avoid infection, proper sterile methods must be used during the insertion of the implant, such as the use of hand hygiene, sterile gloves, and correct skin disinfection.
- A trained doctor or nurse will give local anesthetics, which will numb the part of your arm where the implant will be inserted.
- The doctor may mark the insertion point at 8-10 cm above the elbow of your inner side of the upper arm and another point around 4 cm above as a direction guide.
- It only takes a few minutes to put in, feels similar to having an injection, and you do not need any stitches.
- After implantation, you may get bruising at the implant site, which is normal.
What Are The Common Side Effects Of Nexplanon
The majority of people using Nexplanon do not experience long-term side effects, and most side effects go away after three to six months as your body adjusts to the implant. However, you will want to consider if the risks of these possible side effects are acceptable for you:
- Changes in your menstrual period, including spotting, heavier or irregular bleeding, or no periods at all
- Pain, bruising, infection, or scarring at the implant insertion site
- Mood swings or other changes, such as anxiety or depressionAcne
- Local allergic reaction
Overall, all forms of birth control are safer than an unintended pregnancy.
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Where Can I Get A Contraceptive Implant Fitted Or Removed
You can get the contraceptive implant for free, even if youre under 16, from:
- contraception clinics
- sexual health or genitourinary medicine clinics
- GP surgeries
- some young peoples services
Some GPs or practice nurses are able to fit and remove implants, so youll need to check at your GP surgery.
Alternatively, most sexual health clinics will be able to do this for you.
