They had this in England when I lived there and since all BC is free there, I thought about doing it. But I'm glad I've gone with NuvaRing... the implant sounds too much like DepoProvera to me. Though 3 years protection is great! I wonder how much it will cost?

Ummm....ewww! Sounds painful, and not practical. I don't want something that has to be surgically removed from me to prevent babies. Ick.

I'm all for it. The best experience of my entire life. I've been using it for 4 years now. Had it replaced in february 2007. And I seriously cannot imagine my life without it anymore.

that picture makes me cringe! i don't want that thing in my arm! i wonder if you can see it...

The sound effects sound like any other type of hormonal birth control.

I meant side effects*

are you kidding me? i'll stick to pills

Wow, that look extremely painful.

hmmm wasn't a very good experience for me at all... major weight gain, suicidal tendencies, not good. i was horrible.
nuva ring on the other hand

the disadvantages really are not worth what it does..and you even need to take a back-up pill for that...definitely not worth it!

My sister has an implant and she loves it. It's worked fo rher and she has no weight gain or problems and it lasts fr five years

The pictures and this entire article just make me weak...I'd much rather take a pill everyday!

I have this exact implant under my arm and I'm quite happy with it. I used to have severe pms but the regular release of hormones into my system has reduced it a great deal.

The scarring that Dear mentioned? A small black dot where the needle went in. No weight gain, but this could be because of the other side effect which is nausea. Sometimes my appetite is just supressed due to the nausea.

Mood can go up and down but not in a dramatic way, and definitely no depression.

Itchy breasts is my number one bother from this implant! Other than that, beats taking a pill every day.

That looks painful and im not the type of person bothered by needles but still eeek.

Anyway ive had kids. Sterilisation for me *yay*.

i've got implanon - it's great, mildly uncomfortable for first week or so but i don't even notice it now. moods fine (although never been a pms or mood swing sufferer). much better than remembering to take the pill each day. only downside is i do get the occasional break through bleeding.
i think the negative side effects Dear mentioned are pretty exaggerated or unusual - most my friends are on it and also have no problems. and as for stressing about it being surgically removed it sounds way more serious than it is - your GP gives you a local to remove or insert it then whack on a pressure bandage, it's over in a couple of minutes and you don't feel anything. best part is when you get it removed you are fertile.
don't be squeamish girls, i've got a weak stomach and i've got zero problems with this great birth control.

I know two people who have had one of these fitted. BOTH of them tried to get me to touch it in their arm.

Seriously, I nearly threw up. I can't think of anything more horrible.

What do you do if the guy you are with is as squeamish as me? I can't even look them in the face anymore without retching. =P

Three of my friends (all English) have this and they love and swear by it, but I'm not sure it's for me.

those side effects sound pretty normal for any birth control and i'm sure they're very rare otherwise it wouldn't have been approved. any one know how much it costs?

yes i have actually heard about this.. but things like this kinda freak me out.. im not sure why.. i just ahhhh lol... scary!! :S

isnt that what the norplant was?

Hmmmm, this sounds like something I will look into. I was considering getting an IUD because my husband and I don't plan on having any kids for a while and I am sick of taking a pill everyday.

Norplant had six rods instead of one, and they were apparently really hard to take out. Implanon is supposed to be so great because it's so much smaller.

yeah, i thought this was called norplant about 12 years ago. i worked with a girl who had the six sticks in her upper arm and it was gross looking. i'm all for something long term, but that's kind of icky.
does this eliminate your period?

YIKES! This doesnt sound too fun at all. There are so many different forms of BC now a days. Why would some one go through with this, there are so many unwanted symptoms.

I agree that the side effects of it sound like every other hormonal birth control out there. If someone wants to use hormonal forms of birth control, the "unwanted symptoms" aren't any worse than any other form. It's always a risk.

I only use NFP, but I don't understand why people think this particular implant is any worse than anything else that's used.

Um, no thanks! Sounds scary to me.

read your pill packet. it lists a whole stack of 'side effects' but chances are, you don't experience them. same with implanon, they are obliged to inform consumers about POSSIBLE side effects, yet it is highly unlikely you will suffer them. it honestly doesn't hurt once it's in, and it feels odd if you apply pressure to the inside of your arm directly where it is but it certainly isn't awful. my bf says it's not weird or freakish and a whole lot better than me forgetting to take the pill and getting up the duff.
it's cheap too, it cost about $26 Australian and lasts for 3 years, where as the 'budget' pill i was on previously cost about $20 for 3 months.
talk to your doctor rather than making a decision based on people who haven't tried it saying it's gross

The implanon had too many side effects for me, so I chose an IUD instead. I'm glad I didn't choose this!

I'll stick to my pills..

Yeah it's a pain to remember to take them everyday at your certain time, BUT, I hate needles. And the idea of having something stuck in my arm..

No thanks..

It's awesome that we have all these choices though. There's something for everyone!

=]

I love my Nuva. Would consider an IUD, but not this. I don't really see why someone would choose this over an IUD... maybe someone with the implant could inform me. I'm just afraid of any sized needles, even little ones, this would be like, fainting.

Everyone seems to be freaking out over the "thing in your arm" aspect, but I don't think it seems that horrible, and I'm squeamish. I mean, it's not as big as it looks in that picture, I'm sure. Ever microchipped a pet? If I search for it, I can find my kitty's chip, but it's tiny and doesn't bother him if I push on it. And it doesn't seem any more cringe-inducing than having stitches- sure, it's something in you, but it's not like you're focusing on it every second all the time. And sometimes I get a little squeamish when messing with my NuvaRing, but it's no big deal. I dunno, it seems like all those things boil down to "something inside you", but eveyone's only freaking out about a tiny rod in your arm.

no thanks!!

I would definitely consider this. The only things that would be of concern to me would be mood swings and weight gain, since I had nasty, nasty side effects when I was taking Seasonale. Now I'm on Yasmin and it works wonderfully, but I would love a birth control that I wouldn't have to think about every single day.

i am 32. older than most geeksugarettes- so let me just tell you a bit abut this stupid thing. i had what was called "norplant" about 7 years ago taken out. i went through severe bouts of depression on that, which left me suicidal. upon taking it out they told me it would take my body up to 6 months before i would be able to get pregnant. gues what? i have a 5 year old daughter that was conceived within 5 weeks of them taking it out. i kid you not. back then, it was 5 years- and 5 little squishy plastic straws inserted. i still have the scars to prove it. i suggest not getting anything implanted into your body if you can help it. for the first year i was fine. then i started feeling worthless, i gained a ton of weight [like 45 pounds] and i was just so depressed i stopped going to college. then i started having anxiety attacks and was diagnosed as bipolar. as soon as i had my daughter, i went on wellbutrin and i have been fine ever since. but the whole experience is life-threatening. why do you think they took norplant OFF the market? it is worth the added extra burden of losing a few moments of intimacy to put on a condom. the events surrounding this one little mistake i amde of implanting that thing into my arm literally changed the course of my life forever. don't make the same mistake i made. when they say "mood swings and depression" they MEAN IT. it was taken off the market as norplant and now they are just dressing it up differently and selling it to a whole new generation of girls and women. please- spread the word about this. read the history fo norplant and the women's lives who were ruined because of it. educate yourself. this is not a "new" implant device. it's the same old Norplant waiting to hurt the minds of women because we are taught it's easier to deal with mood swings than to deal with talking about sex and our bodies.

Folks. Please pay attention to the post. This IS NOT NORPLANT. Yes Norplant was an issue. It was manufactured by Wyeth, contained 6 hard implants that caused major side effects and was left in for 5-7 years.

Implanon is manufactured by Organon, has been used in Europe for over 8 years in approximately 30 couhtries and has a very good clinical track record. It consist of a single, small flexible implant that slowly releases a single hormone and has no more major side effects than any other contraceptive on the market.

It is highly recommended for people who are not terribly compliant and for people for whom large doses of hormones is not suggested.

I am not a rep for an Pharmaceutical or regulatory body and there is really no reason to diss this contraceptive device. It is simply another option available to women and one that works very well.
By the way the cost averages about $20/month, however, that is based on a one time up front cost of 900-1500USD for the device and the doctor's fee.

I actually just got this implanted yesterday. For me it seemed like the only thing left to try. My husband and I have 2 kids and are unsure whether we want more.
So, I was looking for something long term. I had really bad results with the pill the hormones screwed up my period and they made me depressed, as well as forgetting to take it.
I tried the nuva ring, but it fell out all the time. Even after the doctor inserted it. Don't know why. I must have good muscles or something. LOL.
I also went in to get the IUD, but my cervix is tilted and they could not get it in. They said I would have to go under anesthesia so they could "pull my cervix over!!!"
I was on the depo shot for about 2 years, but I got pregnant on that a couple months ago and had a miscarrage, and then a D and C. The doc also said that depo should only be used for about 2 years because it is really bad on your bones.
I just wanted to share my story because a lot of girls were asking why anyone would want to do this. So, when my choices were the pill, surgery, or this, I said what the heck. I'll check back and tell you how it goes. If this doen't work, I think it's a sign from God that my husband need to get fixed!! LOL!!

I had this thing inserted 5 months ago and I've experienced every side-effect associated with it. I have found that this IS the perfect birth control because I can't have sex...I have been bleeding non-stop since insertion! Sometimes it is light, but for the majority of the time, it is severe, heavy, and I can go through a box/bag of pads &/or Tampons (the super ones!) in less than a week.

I have also experienced severe period cramps, hair loss, discoloration of the skin, severe mood swings...which are not good or healthy when you have two children under the age of 2, and constant headaches. Thankfully I have an extremely patient husband. I will be having it removed A.S.A.P. It may not cost much in the way of money to have it implanted, but the physical, emotional, & mental price you pay are not worth it.

I had the inplant inserted in my arm about 5 weeks ago.. apart from the bruising everything was cool at first.Then i started getting really moody with everyone,started getting very emotional over the most simple things..I'm really starting to regret having the inplant put in.I cant stand it anymore!! It feels really weird too and its very itchy.My friend also had the inplant put in about 2 weeks before me. Last week she broke out in loads of spots.I'm horrified i really am.I tried the pill about 2 yrs ago..I couldn't cope with that either,I was in a constant mood,At one point i was locking myself in the bathroom away from everybody. I was so low and felt suicidal. I hope i dont get that bad again!! I think im going to leave the inplant in for another month and if i still feel really moody and emotional then im going to get it taken out.

i just got it i didnt feel any thing thay numed my uper arm..so yeah i dont know if i like it yet i pray i dont gain weight im really bad about that and i hope i dont get depression becouse i will prob try to kill my self again but if it gets down to that ill take it out a.s.a.p and i know my mom will let me i come 1st in her life so yeah but it is way better then having to take a pill every day so yeah i think 3 years will go by like that knowing me ill prob even 4get its there

Well its been 4 days since i last posted.
I said i was going to give the implanon a month to see if i change. well i feel better already! I've changed YAY!!! I'm feeling more like me now.No more mood swings,No more bad emotions )
So to the girls who are thinking of getting the implanon taken out...Give it a chance like i have. Its much better than taking the pill Well i think so anyway:O)
GIVE IT A CHANCE GIRLS PLZ!
xxMarshaxx

I got the Implanon inserted on Monday, and so far it's fine. It didn't bruise very much at all, and my period stopped the day after it was put in...

...so far so good!

I had my Implanon inserted 3 weeks ago and I've had no side effects other than a WICKED bruise that has cleared up. The only thing that you can see on my arm is a tiny little dot that blends in with my freckles. I feel fine, my arm is fine and I LOVE freaking people out by asking them to feel my arm. The nurses at the blood bank were like WTF when they tried to put the tourniquet on my arm. But I have told all of my friends about this.

I have this BC and I guess it's ok. I have been on it for a yr and a half and I'm ready to get it taken out because I'm ready to start trying for another. Will I get put back no way. Hurts pretty badly after they put it in and i have a scar from it. Also my bleeding has been pretty bad. At one time I bleed for like 2 months straight and it was horrible..

seriosly how many girls have actually been on implanon? if you have not been on it then you have no business talking about it and having someone change their mind on it. i personaly am on it and i can say it works wonders. yes you have side effects but honestly which birth control does not. being on implanon has been VERY effective, the insertion does not hurt

Hey,

I am 20 and got married on the 11th July 2008. I got the depo injection about two weeks before the wedding. I was on my period when i had the injection. I didn't have a period again until august which seemed normal but it didn't stop. I knew irregular bleeding was common for most women while having the injection. Though my bleeding was/is not heavy i still had/have to wear pads. The nurse and doctor advised me to stick it out for a few more injections so my body could get used to it. So i had the 2nd injection. At the end of the 2nd injection(6months) i had had enough of bleeding every day for 5 months so i didn't go back for my 3rd injection! We went onto condoms.

But i wanted to try the implant as i was worried about getting pregnant. I know condoms are very effective but it still worried me. Some of you may be thinking why didn't i try the pill... The implant seemed such a convenience of not having to think about contraception for 3 years!
About 2 1/2 months after my missed injection i stopped bleeding for the first time in 7 months!! It was so nice! But i had already booked my implant to be inserted on the 27th feb. Maybe i shouldn't have got it and continued to use condoms or try the pill. On the 26th march i started bleeding again :'( 2 1/2 months later and it hasn't stopped.

I have read many reviews and comments about the implant and all say pretty much the same thing. I realise women who are not finding any problems with the implant will not search for these sites thus not making any comments.
It will be my first marriage anniversary soon and through all of the year i have been bleeding. Its depressing and upsets me a lot sometimes to be honest. I feel dirty sometimes and though its only light bleeding and i take care in cleaning my self before and after sex(sorry if that's too much info) its such a downer. Can't be as spur of the moment as i would like.

I don't know how long to keep the implant in as all the comments i have read with women in similar positions as myself don't seem to be getting any better.
I haven't tried any prescribed pills to control the bleeding yet but it is something i could talk to my doctor or family planning clinic about. I think i will wait until I've had it for 6 months to see if anything changes.
J

Update: I have had this in since 8/5/08, almost a year. The only side effect I have been experiencing, is bleeding. I bled for 5 month straight after getting it. They tried giving me the pill on top of it; to stop the bleeding. That didn't work. So, they gave me the depo shot since I didn't bleed on that. It worked, but only for 3 months. Now I bleed for about 2 weeks then stop for a week or 2, then start bleeding again, then stop, etc. It is mostly spotting, but embarassing and disgusting none the less. I have made another appointment to try and figure out what to do since my insurance will not cover 2 forms of birth control at once. I don't want to get it taken out since it works so well, and I've tried everything else, but I am so sick of bleeding and always feeling gross.

This form of birth control, while having the "icky" factor because it is inserted under your skin, is a life saver for people who can't be on estrogen based birth control. Estrogen is in almost every birth control pill, shot, and is in all morning after pills and IUDs and the like. That leaves very few options for women who cant have estrogen based birth control.
Sure, when you first read the side effects they are freaky, but they are the same as are on any BC pill, aside from possible scarring. Yes, there will be people who cant tolerate it, but that doesnt make it a bad option for everyone. All women have different bodies, and just as certain pills set certain women off, Implanon might not be a good choice for certain people. So dont knock it because you had bad side effects - its just like any other medication: itll work for some and it wont for others.

this sh*t hurts i got it done yesterday and i have a horrible bruise they said i had to leave this bandage on it and take it off the next day when i did it was swallen but im gonna stick it out a couple days and see how it works but as of right this second it aint lookn too bright and whats this bleeding for 5 month are you crzy

I've been on this Implanon since 8/28/08 almost a year now...i hate this bc soo much only problem is my mom wont let me get it taken out...i bled for about 3 months straight the doctor gave me a pill on top of the implanon which worked for about a month...it seems like throughout the whole year i was bleeding i rather go back to bein natural my every 28 day cycle because i truly strongly feel as if i am being punished by being on thi implanon...i want it out ASAP and after that NEVER AGAIN will i try any other form of birth control

i just got this thing in my arm on 06/29/09 it was weird
the d.o.c had a hard time getting it in my arm??? but i was numb so didn't feel nothing but I'm scared it's going to be difficult to take out but I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best