Could the contraceptive implant be a good choice for you? Here’s the lowdown on birth control implant side effects, birth control implant effectiveness, the pros and cons for your health and love life, and where to get one
Could the contraceptive implant be a good choice for you? Here’s the lowdown on birth control implant side effects, birth control implant effectiveness, the pros and cons for your health and love life, and where to get one
The contraceptive implant (known as Nexplanon) is a flexible plastic rod that's about the size of a matchstick. It’s placed under the skin in your upper arm, releasing the hormone progestogen steadily into your bloodstream to stop you getting pregnant. Think of it as birth control that goes in your arm.
You’ll usually have it replaced every 3 to 5 years.
US figures from 2015 to 2017 (the latest national figures available) show that about 4% of women aged 15-44 who currently use contraception use the implant.
The implant is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. “The effectiveness is partly because women who use it don’t have to remember to take a pill every day so it is always working,” says Dr Ann Nainan, family doctor and Healthily expert. “It’s also sometimes known as ‘get-it-and-forget-it’ contraception or long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).”
It’s rare to get pregnant while you have a birth control implant but around 1 in every 100 women could. If you think you might be pregnant, do a pregnancy test or speak to your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. The implant will not affect a pregnancy test.
If you do get pregnant while you’re using the implant there’s no evidence that it will harm the baby. You should arrange for the implant to be removed if you want to continue with the pregnancy.
There are 3 main ways that a birth control implant stops you getting pregnant:
The implant is inserted under your skin, in the same way that you’d have an injection. Here’s the lowdown:
If you want your implant removed – or a new one needs to be put in – here’s what happens:
It doesn’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections, so you may need to use extra protection such as condoms
In the early months after you’ve had an implant fitted you may have temporary symptoms such as:
Even though it’s small, you should be able to feel the implant just under your skin. It shouldn’t be painful and you shouldn’t be aware it’s even there. “It’s important to check your implant from time to time to make sure you can still feel it,” says Dr Ann. “Why not set a monthly reminder on your phone?”
Speak with your doctor as soon as possible if:
Contact your doctor urgently or go to the emergency department if:
“Yes, some medicines may make the implant less effective at protecting you against becoming pregnant. These include some medicines used to treat HIV and epilepsy, as well as some antibiotics such as rifampicin which is used to treat tuberculosis (TB). Complementary medicines such as St John’s Wort may also affect it,” says Dr Roger Henderson, doctor and Healthily expert.
“If you’re taking any of these, use additional methods of contraception, such as condoms, or speak with your doctor about other types of contraception that aren’t affected by medicines you’re taking.”
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.