Where Can I Get My Nexplanon Removed

The contraceptive implant (Nexplanon) is a minor flexible plastic rod that'southward placed under the skin in your upper arm past a doctor or nurse.

It releases the hormone progestogen into your bloodstream to foreclose pregnancy and lasts for 3 years.

Contraceptive implant. It is white and made from plastic. It has the shape of a small stick.

At a glance: the implant

The implant is more than 99% effective.
Once the implant is in place, you don't accept to think about information technology again for 3 years.
It tin can be useful for women who can't employ contraception that contains oestrogen.
It's very useful for women who find it difficult to call back to take a pill at the same fourth dimension every twenty-four hours.
The implant tin be taken out if you have side effects.
You lot can take it removed at any time, and your natural fertility volition return very quickly.
When it's first put in, you may experience some bruising, tenderness or swelling around the implant.
Your periods may get irregular, lighter, heavier or longer.
A mutual side issue is that your periods stop (amenorrhoea). It's non harmful, simply you may want to consider this before deciding to have an implant.
Some medicines can make the implant less effective.
It doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and so you may need to use condoms as well.

How it works

The implant steadily releases the hormone progestogen into your bloodstream, which prevents the release of an egg each calendar month (ovulation).

It as well thickens the cervical mucus, which makes information technology more hard for sperm to move through the cervix, and thins the lining of the womb so a fertilised egg is less likely to implant itself.

When it starts to work

Y'all can have the implant put in at any time during your menstrual wheel, every bit long as yous're not pregnant.

If the implant is fitted during the outset v days of your menstrual wheel, you'll be immediately protected against condign significant.

If it'south fitted on any other day of your menstrual cycle, yous'll need to use boosted contraception (such as condoms) for seven days.

Subsequently giving birth

You can have the implant fitted any time after you've given birth.

If it's fitted earlier mean solar day 21 after the nativity, you'll exist immediately protected confronting condign significant.

If information technology's fitted on or after day 21, yous'll need to apply additional contraception (such every bit condoms) for the next vii days.

It's rubber to use the implant while you're breastfeeding.

Afterward a miscarriage or abortion

The implant can exist fitted immediately afterward a miscarriage or an abortion and you'll be protected against pregnancy straight away.

How is a contraceptive implant fitted or removed?

A local anaesthetic is used to numb the expanse on the inside of your upper arm.

The implant is and so inserted nether your skin – information technology only takes a few minutes to put in and feels similar having an injection. You won't need any stitches after your implant has been fitted.

Nexplanon works for 3 years before information technology needs to exist replaced. You can utilize this method until you lot reach the menopause, when a woman's monthly periods stop naturally.

The implant can be removed at any time by a specially trained doctor or nurse. Information technology just takes a few minutes to remove, and a local anaesthetic will be used. The md or nurse will make a tiny cutting in your skin to gently pull the implant out.

As shortly as the implant has been removed, you'll no longer be protected against pregnancy.

Who can utilise the implant

Well-nigh women can be fitted with the contraceptive implant.

Information technology may not be suitable if you:

call up yous might exist pregnant
don't want your periods to modify
take other medicines that may affect the implant
take unexplained bleeding in betwixt periods or afterwards sex
accept arterial disease or a history of heart illness or stroke
have liver illness
have breast cancer or have had it in the past
accept a medical condition that may impact which contraception you tin can use – speak to your GP or practice nurse, or visit your nearest sexual wellness clinic to discuss further

Advantages and disadvantages of the implant

Advantages:

it works for 3 years
information technology doesn't interrupt sex
it's an option if you tin can't use oestrogen-based contraception, such as the combined contraceptive pill, contraceptive patch or vaginal ring
it'south safe to apply while you're breastfeeding
your fertility will return to normal as soon every bit the implant is taken out
it may reduce heavy periods or period pain

Disadvantages:

y'all may experience temporary side effects during the kickoff few months, similar headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings
your periods may be irregular or stop altogether
y'all may become acne or your acne might become worse
yous'll need a modest process to accept it fitted and removed
it doesn't protect y'all against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so you may need to use additional contraception (such as condoms) besides

Will other medicines affect the implant?

Some medicines can make the implant less effective, such as:

medicines for HIV, epilepsy and tuberculosis
complementary remedies, such equally St John's Wort
some antibiotics, such as rifabutin or rifampicin

If you're taking any of these medicines, you lot'll need additional contraception (such as condoms), or you lot may wish to utilize a different method of contraception that isn't afflicted by your medicine.

Always tell your doc that yous're using an implant if you're prescribed whatsoever medicine. You tin can also inquire them whether the medicine you're taking will affect the implant.

Risks of the implant

In rare cases, the area of pare where the implant has been fitted can become infected. If this happens, y'all may demand antibiotics.

Y'all should also see a GP or healthcare professional person at whatsoever time if:

you can't feel the implant
the implant feels similar it's changed shape
yous notice any changes to the skin or experience any pain at the site of the implant
you become pregnant

Where can I get a contraceptive implant fitted or removed?

You lot can get the contraceptive implant for free, even if you're under 16, from:

contraception clinics
sexual health or genitourinary medicine (Gum) clinics
GP surgeries
some young people'southward services

Some (just non all) GPs or do nurses are able to fit and remove implants, so you'll need to check at your GP surgery.

Alternatively, well-nigh sexual health clinics will exist able to practice this for you.

Find a sexual health clinic

Getting contraception during coronavirus

If you need contraception, call your GP surgery or a sexual health dispensary as soon equally possible. Only go in person if asked to.

It might not be possible to have an implant fitted or replaced at the moment.

Y'all normally accept a contraceptive implant for 3 years, only information technology tin can be left in and will continue to work for upwardly to iv years.

The risk of getting pregnant during the 4th year is very low. If you're worried about getting significant, you could utilise condoms or the progestogen-merely pill too.

If you're nether xvi years sometime

Contraception services are costless and confidential, including for people nether the age of 16.

If you lot're under sixteen and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist won't tell your parents (or carer) as long as they believe y'all fully understand the information you're given, and your decisions.

Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under 16. They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, simply they won't make you.

The only fourth dimension a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe yous're at risk of harm, such as abuse. The take a chance would need to exist serious, and they would normally discuss this with yous first.

Page final reviewed: 9 March 2022
Side by side review due: ix March 2024