Can have unexpected effects (Member Advice on Contraception)

Member Name: jesperado

Product:	Member Advice on Contraception
Date:	16/01/09 (179 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Definitely works as a contraceptive - but for the wrong reasons!

Disadvantages: Really didn't work well for me

I had this put in about 18 months and taken out again after six months for reasons I will explain later.

The product itself is a small white plastic strip that has roughly the same dimensions as a matchstick. It is called Implanon and is a subdermal (under the skin) implant fitted by a doctor. It works by releasing progestin which stops ovulation. It releases this steadily over 3 years at which point the implant is removed as it no longer functions as a contraceptive.

I decided to try this method of contraception as I had suffered quite badly from side effects from various contraceptive pills. I was affected by mood swings to a great extent when using these pills and was told that Implanon should not cause me to have mood swings.

Having discussed the implant with my GP I then made an appointment with a specially trained doctor at my local surgery to have the implant fitted. Implanon is a fairly new contraceptive method so not all doctors have been trained to fit the implant. The implantation required the doctor to give me a local anaesthetic then make a small incision in my left upper arm. He then inserted the implanted using a specially designed device. This process was pain free apart from the initial slight sting of the injection (like a mild bee sting) although I could feel the implant being pushed into my arm which felt strange but not unpleasant. I then had to wear a tight bandage over the area for 24 hours to reduce any swelling.When I removed the bandage there was still a little bruising around the incision but it was not swelled. I could feel the implant in my aim but it wasn't sore.

The doctor advised that I should have the implant in for 6 months to let my body get used to it before deciding whether or not to keep it in. I had it in for six months before I decided to have it removed. It certainly was effective as a contraceptive; I have to give it that. Unfortunately this was mainly because it removed any sex drive I had. I found that whilst I had the implant in I felt sort of robotic, I wasn't depressed but I wasn't enjoying anything either. Where the pill had given me massive mood swings, this implant seemed to remove my moods altogether. On top of this, my menstrual cycle went completely haywire and I seemed to be bleeding almost constantly. After six months of this I was well and truly fed up and made an appointment to have the implant removed. The removal was almost as easy as the implantation as the implant had hardly moved - they can migrate but mine had stayed in roughly the same place. I wore a bandage for a day as I had when the implant was first inserted and have been left with only a very small light scar on my arm.

Since removing the implant I have not started taking the pill or any other method of contraception and have felt much healthier and more normal as a result. Although my case is probably not the norm when it comes to Implanon, I wanted to share my experience with anyone considering this method of contraception as I feel it is important to know as much as you can about health products before using them. I hope no-one else shares my experience of this but if you do I hope this review will reassure you that it may be a side effect of the implant rather than a physical or psychological problem with you.

Summary: I would not use this again