Implanon - side effects

[Toni86]

Hi there,

Ive had the implant since Dec 2008 and recently got it changed to a new one earlier this year. I am having the most awful mood swings that its actually ripping me and my better half apart. However for the past 3 years I refused to listen to other people when they said that it was the implant that was making me crazy. I just couldn't understand the effect on me that it had. This week I nearly broke up with my boyfriend but we decided to work things out on the terms i got the implant taken out. so im ringing on monday to have it removed! I was such a happy person before hand and rarely had moods, our sex life was the greatest. Now ive become a indecisive, irritable, paranoid, always on edge spawn of satan. Its taken me this long to realise this however i cannot wait to get it out. I always thought id just become this person on my own accord but it coincides with the first time i had the implant inserted.

Girls please think twice about getting this for of contraceptive inserted as it may just ruin your life!!!!

[Charley0x]

Hi,
I have had the contraceptive implant for about 2 years and after the first year i keep getting thrush and urine infections.
It says this isnt a symptom!
Can anybody help?
Should i get it removed, and what contraceptive is the best for not getting thrush ??
Please Reply

Thankyou

[Keb]

Hey there!

I had my first implanon put in about 3 months ago (perhaps just under) and since then have not stopped bleeding! it gets heavier and lighter all the time but it never stops, not sure if I should be worried?
I'm thinking of taking it out and getting back on the pill... Has anyone else suffered this?
Other things i've notice whilst being on implanon is my boobs have shrunk a size, my moods aren't too bad,a bit up and down, and i'm getting pimples on my chest now.

[amyyyyy!]

I had this implant put in at the start of June 2010, I had only ever used condoms before as contreception.
my periods were normal and never gave me any real problems,my sex life used to be grate but its been on a decline ever since I got this implant,I have much less intrest in sex and its a big problem in my relationship now,which is not good,I also get verry down and teary, I cry a lot more now than I ever did before for no reason really.
My periods were verry regular before and lasted a few days, Ive had about 3 since I got the implant and they have been verry light and lasted only a day sometimes a few more.
I have however sufferd alot of pain in the opening of my privates,swollen/puffy angry looking and sore cousing pain when having im not sure if this is a side effect or not, has anyone els had anything like this?
its happen mostly around the time wen my period would have been or wen I do get a period now. Its really affecting my relationship I never had problems with my lady bits before Apart from that I havent sufferd as badly as some of the other women on here,So I must be one of the few lucky ones, however it has only been 6 months or so,I could be in for rough times yet?!

hi! i suffer pain too..although i wasn't sure if it was to do with this? i have had my implant 3 years now..its due out next week, and i have just put up with the acne, headaches, dizziness..had no periods for about two years..but for the first year it was consistent. Really worried about the pain, as both my doctor and several different clinical nurses can't find a solution...one even told me it was the shower gel i was using! so angry, cant wwait to get it out but no idea what i can use instead that WONT give me spots or headaches ect...HELP?

[Ihateimplanon]

Can't believe i reading all these I'm going thru all these same side effects and I've also noticed that when I drink I black out almost everytime and horrible horrible hangovers the next day and that can just cone from having 1 -3 beers I just turned 21 and b4 inplanon I never had any issues with hangovers. I constantly feel super tired it's almost hard to make myself get up and move anywhere. I'm grumpy and also so in love with my boyfrend but when he tries to get some romance going it just annoys me I want to fix this . I'm going to try to get it taken put 2mw I just want to be back to my old self bc this person is not me

[Guest]

Hi girls.
I'm on implant for a 2 years, and I had every horrible side effects, but, I was fighting, as it's only one contraception method for me, cause of allergies. I was beeding in pain for a motth or two... since I found Primrose Oil! 3-6 capsules a day and everything gone forever! Try it! I have no pains, no bleeding longer that 4 days and my mood is stabile.
I hope it will help.

[Franck]

Hi Phillippa123,
New in this forum and found your informative threat.
I found this guest and your conversation very important and effective for those who don't know about implanon side effects. Keep sharing and posting.

[MeredithL]

Wow i am so happy im not alone in this. I had my implanon for less than a year and it made me gain 40 lbs. i had terrible mood swings. and it completely obliterated my sex drive. its to the point that my fiance is starting to think i dont love him and that im not attracted to him.
He even asked me if i was cheating on him. all because the thought of sex made me go bleh.
I've been off for five months and still dont have a sex drive. I stopped gaining weight, and my cycle is about normal now.

[Summer81]

I had the implant put in around 8 months ago. My hair has been falling out ever since! And now i have to wait 6 weeks to have it removed cuz they cant fit me in! Im worried ill be bald by the time that comes round

[Guest]

OMFG...

i came on here to try and find out long term side affects... im in my seventh - yes SEVENTH year of implanon!

ive heard so many bad reports and i always washed them away as i (thought) i never had any problems...

two years ago i was diagnosed with depression - very out of the blue, and very strange for me (strong, stubborn, outgoing 24 year old) however, reading all of your comments (which bode similar to mine) im beginning to think whether i should have mine removed...

as with the first couple of posts, i had a termination at 18 and was put straight on Implanon as i always forget to take my pill.... periods stopped and i thought "wahey!!"

ive also recently had 4 blood tests including hypo and hyper thyroidism because of ridiculous tiredness and vast weight gain... all came back negative.... all same symptoms as you girls... my doctor INSISTS that implanon cannot make me tired etc but as she has no other medical explanation - it must be it!

think i may just have to make an appointment to have this bad boy removed!

thanks for your help - i hope my story helps you all too... xx

Joanne - 24, Portsmouth

[rainbowstar]

Hey everyone

Like loads of people before me I just want to say thanks as well for posting your experiences. At 1st I thought it was just me but then I read what was happening to other people and it was such a relief to know I wasn't alone.


I got the implant about november time last year. I was on the pill (cilest) for about 6/7 yearss before that. I have always suffered really bad period pain on the pill so thought I would look into alternative contraception.
I had read a bit about side effects and long periods so I asked the doctor about it at my appointment at the clinic. She just said ‘everyone’s different’ so I thought I would give it a go. I really now wish I hadn’t because it has ruined so much

At first I was taking the pill with the implant to try and control my periods because I was just constantly bleeding. My periods then regulated about jan time so I stopped taking the pill jan/feb time. At first like many others I thought the implant was great – my periods had seemed to stop altogether and I didn’t have bad period pain anymore! I also didn’t seem to be putting on much or any weight although I have always been pretty slim.
It’s not until the break up between me and my boyfriend that I’ve realised what it’s been doing to me.
I was arguing with him for no reason or for ridiculous things that shouldn’t have bothered me. I would just feel so wound up and like my blood was boiling that I couldn’t control what I did or said. I would also get upset about nothing or the simplest of things! I’m totally gutted about all this because I don’t think he wants to speak to me anymore because he feels the way I treated him was just out of control and he can’t forget it. I wish he would read what people are saying here and see that that wasn’t me and I’m not that person and for him to give me another chance

Now on thinking back I can see a lot of side effects here which I didn’t realise could be related to the implant. I have IBS which has been pretty bad recently I get bad stomach pains, cramps and bloating which could actually be related to the implant. (have been taking medicine for my ibs for months which hasn’t helped at all)
Have also been quite a panicky and stressed person recently (I just blamed stress at work) had no idea that could be linked to the implant as well. Other things that may be linked are headaches, feeling pretty down and crying a lot for no reason, dizziness, and anxiety.

The one thing I have found different from others is that I haven’t put on weight on the implant (although I’ve always been skinny) and after jan/feb time I didn’t get anymore bleeding. Have any others been like this?
Also I was wondering when most people got affected by the mood swings? How many months into getting the implant and if anything made it worse? Also what I don’t get is how they know what dose of hormones are going into your body from the implant? Mean we are not all the same size and what might be ok for one person could be a huge overdose to the next person.

Anyway sorry for rambling and I wish everyone out there good luck

I will try to keep you updated once I get the implant out (Monday hopefully) and try to return to normal life. Whether my relationship can be saved or not I do not know

Lisa x

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

Was lovely to find these forums!! Firstly i just want to say my heart goes out to you all, it's no fun at all living with these symptoms.

My story begins a few years ago. I had implanon put in in 2006 (age 33), the symptoms started within a couple of months (although it took me some time to realise exactly what it might be making me feel so awful), the usual...tired, depressed, VERY grumpy (my poor husband suffering, as most of you mention) putting on weight, loss of confidence, hot flushes etc etc. and my periods stopped completely.

I had the implanon removed after a total of 8 months. My periods never returned to normal after having it removed and I can go a year without any at all. This caused constant worrying and pregancy tests (bloomin expensive!). I was still experiencing all the same symptoms, nothing had changed.

In around 2007 I had a blood test for early menopause as my periods had still not returned to normal and I was still experiencing all the same symptoms, the test came back normal, so after seeing the doc on numerous occasions, to no avail, I carried on for 4 years feeling dreadful.

I recently went to the doctors to ask about having a coil fitted, when I was asked when my last period was and the answer being 'I only have like 1 or 2 a year now', the doctor decided I should again be tested for early menopause. This time the results came back incredibly high and I was told that I had not only started the menopause but was post-menopausal! which means I would have started my menopause at the age of 35. As the results were so high my doctors decided that it would be prudent to have another blood test just to confirm, before discussing HRT.

Today I had the results of the second test, they returned normal. So, now it's yet another trip back to the doctors to find out what on earth is happening as it is quite clear from such erractic results that something is not right with my hormone levels. I wonder if anyone else who has had Implanon removed, suffer with the same symptoms and lack of periods? How long is it before the implant is totally out of your system after being removed? Is it possible that implants could 'trigger' an early menopause?

Needless to say I have alot of questions for my doctor when i return!

Thoughts to you all,

Beth xx

[rainbowstar]

Hi Beth,

I just had my implant removed yesterday. I had it in about 7/8 months. My periods stopped after about 2 months (I was taking the pill at 1st too). I am younger than you I’m 25.
I totally feel for you that your periods never returned to normal after the implant. I hope the docs are able to find out what’s going on and help you! It’s early days but I can let you know what happens with mine if they return to normal. It seems a lot of people get long/irregular periods rather than them stopping altogether.

I was told by the nurse yesterday that the hormones from my implant should leave my body pretty quickly so we will see. I do feel a lot better already though and it’s only been a day!

Good luck let us know how you get on!

Lisa x

[rainbowstar]

Hi everyone!

Just to let you know I had my implant removed yesterday.
The nurse felt the implant in my arm and marked it with a pen. The nurse then got everything set up and injected my arm with local anaesthetic. 10/15 minutes later and the nurse was still digging about in my arm to try and get the implant out! He eventually had to call another nurse in to help him as the implant had embedded into my arm and tissue had grown around it. It eventually got cut out. The other nurse thought I had had the implant in for ages not the 7/8months it had only been in for! I was advised to not get it in again as it was so difficult to remove (don’t worry I thought I would NEVER get the implant again!)
So my arm was pretty sore yesterday. Better today. Just have to hope it doesn’t get infected or anything. It’s only been a day but I feel so much better, a lot calmer and a lot less uptight and upset even though I’m still heartbroken over my spilt with my boyfriend.

Good luck to everyone!

Lisa x

[BethNCW]

Hey Lisa,

Well done on getting your implant removed, although it sounds like it was not a pleasant experience you poor thing Would really love to know how you get on over time, a serious positive though that your already feeling better! Hope your arm continues to mend quickly!

Will keep you posted on what happens next for me, docs app on friday, so will be asking quite a few questions. It will be interesting to hear what she has to say to be honest as it was her who told me how 'wonderful' the implant was and also her that I had to argue with to get it removed after having had the usual 'stick with it', 'give it time'

The more I hear about these implants and the horrid side effects so many of us are suffering from, the more I come to think that Implants simply shouldn't be on the market. Surely, a drug that has supposed to have been rigourously tested before general release, shouldn't be effecting such large numbers of women, in the same way, also causing damage to alot of lives? It just seems to me that there are an awful lot of negative experiences, all very very similar for there not to be something wrong. If there were just one or two people having issues I could understand that it was simply not suited to that particular individual, however, for so many....it just seems odd.

Keep me posted Lisa

Love to all,

Beth xx