Is Implanon® suitable for me?
Implanon® is suitable for any women
who is looking for a long-term method of contraception. You
might be a young girl going to college, a woman in her twenties
who wishes to concentrate on her career or a mother wishing
to space her pregnancies. Implanon® is also a suitable
solution if you have completed your family and consider sterilization.
Your doctor will make sure that hormonal contraception is
suitable for you.
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For how many years can I use Implanon®?
Implanon® has been designed to be effective
for three years. However, after three years Implanon®
does not immediately stop working, but the reliability slowly
decreases. Therefore, Implanon® has to be removed after
three years, and a new Implanon® rod or another form of
contraception should be used immediately if you do not want
to get pregnant.
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How does it prevent pregnancy?
Implanon® slowly releases a hormone
which prevents the monthly release of an egg from your ovaries.
The effect of Implanon® also prevents sperms from entering
the womb. If there is no egg to be fertilized, you cannot
become pregnant. Protection against pregnancy is provided
from first day of use and will last for three years.
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Do other medicine such as antibiotics affect
the reliability of Implanon®?
Some medicines might interact with Implanon®.
You should always make sure your doctor knows that you are
using Implanon® when other medicines are
prescribed for you. If you are admitted to a hospital do not
forget to mention that you are using Implanon®.
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How reliable is Implanon®?
Many clinical trials have been carried
out with Implanon® which have shown it to be
an extremely reliable method of contraception.
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What if I have an upset stomach, will Implanon®
still prevent pregnancy?
In case of an upset stomach or diarrhea,
Implanon® will still prevent pregnancy. This is because
the hormone in Implanon® is not taken orally and therefore
does not have to go through the digestive system.
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What happens when Implanon®
is inserted?
As with other contraceptives, a medical
examination will be performed by your doctor to make sure
that hormonal contraception is suitable for you. Insertion
takes about one minute. You will receive local anesthetics
to numb the area. Afterward a pressure-bandage will be put
on your arm to minimize the risk of bruising. You should keep
the area around the bandage dry and clean. After 24 hours
the bandage can be removed.
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Will I need regular checkups?
Continue your routine visit to your physician,
if you have any concerns you should discuss them with your
doctor.
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Will anyone be able to see Implanon® in
my arm?
Implanon® is not likely to be visble.
However, you can feel Implanon® with your fingertips,
and this is important for the doctor who can then easily locate
Implanon® for removal.
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When should Implanon® be inserted?
Your doctor will advise you when to have
Implanon® inserted. If you are not using hormonal contraception,
this is preferably between days one and five of your menstrual
cycle. Day one is the first day when you are having your period.
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Does it hurt?
The use of a local anesthetic will numb
the area and it should only take about one minute to place
Implanon®. There might be some tenderness and bruising
once the anesthetic has worn off. If you are concerned, do
discuss this with your doctor.
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Could Implanon® get lost in my body?
Shortly after it has been inserted, a
small layer of tissue is formed around the implant which should
keep Implanon® at the site of insertion.
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Are there any side effects with Implanon®?
As with all contraceptive methods, some
side effects have been reported. These are mentioned on the
next page. Full details of side effects are given in the package
leaflet provided with Implanon®. Undesirable
effects that may occur include acne, headache, weight gain,
and breast tenderness. Rare side effects include hair loss,
mood changes, changes in libido, abdominal pain and painful
periods. In addition, insertion and removal of Implanon®
may cause slight local irritation, pain and itching in the
area. If you experience side effects while using Implanon®
you should consult your doctor.
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Does Implanon® affect my skin condition?
In clinical observations, acne was reported
as a drug related side effect. Some women (14%) developed
acne during Implanon® use. In 59% of women who
had acne before Implanon® use, this condition
improved. In 10% of these women the condition worsened.
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Will Implanon® cause mood changes?
With all hormonal contraceptives, headache,
nausea, breast pain and mood swings are reported as “side
effects” thought to be attributable to their use. These
side effects are also common in women who do not use hormones,
so they may not always be caused by hormonal contraceptives.
Mood swings have been reported in 2.5% of Implanon®
users.
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Will Implanon® make me put on weight?
Weight gain was reported as a drug-related
side effect in 6.4% of Implanon® users. Women
using either Implanon® or non-hormonal IUDs
were observed for a period of two years. The weight gain observed
was comparable for both methods.
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Will Implanon® affect my periods?
Implanon® will most likely
affect your monthly cycle. Your bleeding pattern will probably
become irregular. Women are very different individuals and
some find that their periods change slightly, stop together
or happen only occasionally. Others find that their periods
are heavier and last longer, don’t worry if your periods
stop, it doesn’t mean that you are pregnant. The changes
vary from one woman to another.Your bleeding pattern might
change over time as well. Painful menstruation improved in
88% of Implanon® users.
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Are there any other issues related to the safety
of Implanon®?
The result of the clinical trials showed
that Implanon® use does not have any clinically
relevant effects on blood clotting or other physiological
systems, in rare cases, a slight rise in blood pressure has
been observed during the use of Implanon®.
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Does Implanon® stop working
as the three years are up?
Implanon® does not immediately stop
working at the end of the three-year period. However, after
three years the reliability slowly decreases. Therefore, Implanon®
has to be removed after three years, and a new Implanon®
rod or another form of contraception should be used immediately
if you do not want to get pregnant.
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What about removal?
Removing Implanon® takes about three
minutes. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area. A small
incision is made, and the rod is taken out. After removal,
a pressure-bandage will be applied to minimize the risk of
bruising.
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Will it leave a scar when Implanon®
is removed?
There is possibility of scarring after
the removal of Implanon®.
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What if I want to have a baby?
If you decide you want to have a baby,
see your doctor to have Implanon® removed, Once Implanon®
has been removed, you will begin your regular monthly cycle
and ovulation again. Most women ovulate within the first month
after the removal of Implanon®.
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Who will remind me to have Implanon® removed/replaced
in three years’ time?
When Implanon® is inserted
you will get a card which mentions the date on which Implanon®
has to be removed. By keeping this card e.g. in your wallet
you will be reminded when Implanon® should be
removed. Your physician might also contact you when it is
time for the removal of Implanon®.
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Could Implanon® affect the chances of having
a baby?
Within a few days after Implanon® has
been removed, the hormone released by Implanon® will have
left your body. The chances of you becoming pregnant should
be the same as they were without Implanon® use.
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How soon can I use Implanon® after I have
had a baby?
If you are not breast-feeding, Implanon®
can be inserted 21 to 28 days after you have had your baby.
If inserted later, your doctor may advise you to use a condom
as well for seven days.
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What about sexually transmitted diseases?
Implanon® will not protect you from
sexually transmitted diseases. You can use a condom to be
protected against these, while using Implanon® to prevent
pregnancy.
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Does Implanon® increase the risk of breast
cancer?
The risk of breast cancer increases in
general with increasing age. The influence of hormonal contraception
on breast cancer has been documented mainly for the combined
contraceptive pill which contains estrogen and progestogen.
Implanon® is a progestogen only contraceptive.
During the use of the Pill, the risk of having
breast cancer diagnosed increases slightly but disappears
gradually after discontinuation of the Pill.
The limited data available on the use of progestogen-only
contraceptives suggest that the risk is lower compared to
the combined Pill.
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Can Implanon® break?
Breakage of Implanon® has
never been reported.
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I am using a progestogen-only contraceptive
(minipill, injectable, implant). Can I switch to Implanon®?
Yes. You should discuss the switch with
your doctor, who will advise you on which day you should have
Implanon® inserted.
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I am taking the Pill. Can I switch to Implanon®?
Yes. You should discuss the switch with
your doctor, who will advise you on which day you should have
Implanon® inserted. This is preferably on the first day
of the Pill-free interval.
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I am using an IUD. Can I switch to Implanon®?
Yes. Your doctor will advise you when to
have Implanon® inserted and the IUD removed. Insertion
of Implanon® is preferably done between days one and five
of your menstrual cycle. Day one is the first day of your
period.
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Is Implanon® an alternative to sterilization?
It can be since Implanon® is extremely
reliable and has the advantage of reversibility. If your circumstances
change, you still could change your mind.
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I still have some more questions
You should seek the advice of your doctor
for any additional questions on Implanon®.
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