|
|
|
The Contraceptive Implant
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > Life > Health and Relationships > Health > Sexual Health > The Contraceptive Implant
The Contraceptive ImplantThe implant has been met with heavy scepticism, with one type even being taken off the listing because it caused so much scarring. This is Norplant. Some of you might still have it in, but it’s been discontinued in the UK. The main type now is Implanon. It’s a small, flexible tube that is about the same size as a Kirby grip, containing progestogen. It releases it steadily into the bloodstream from the comfiness of your upper arm. It lasts for three years. [Norplant for 5]. It basically does what most contraceptives in the body do; thicken mucus around your cervix, thins your uterine lining and also prevents egg release [and therefore bleeds, in time] When it is put in [usually first day of period], you are likely to be given a local anaesthetic, then have the implant injected. You will probably be bruised and sore for a few days. You’ll be able to feel and fiddle with it, but resist that temptation for a while! You will be protected from the word go! When you’re getting it removed, it is cut out. You can get another one popped in right away if you want. However, if you want it permanently removed, you must use condoms during the week before it is removed, because sperm can live inside you for 7 days, and you lost protection as soon as the implant is taken out. You ought to have a check up after the first three months, then just once a year providing you’re not having problems. The Good Stuff• The implant really is the most effective form, at over 99% pregnancy prevention • It’s not like you have to remember to do anything! • It does not interfere with sex. • You still breastfeed • It is good for those who can’t take oestrogen for whatever reason • It can be removed if you have trouble with it, and you can get pregnant right after removal • It offers protection against pelvic inflammatory disease. The Bad Side• It can go a few ways; you could have irregular bleeding, no bleeding at all, or prolonged bleeding for a while. This is annoying, but it can’t harm you • Your usual headaches, spots, dizziness, weight gain, sore boobies, mood swings • Very rarely, infection in the site • It can be difficult to remove. There have only been 2 or 3 cases of migration, though • Harmless ovarian cysts, with a little pelvic pain • Mood swings • No STI protection [duh] Don’t get it if you are suffering or have suffered from • Liver disease • Unexplained bleeding from the vagina • Cancer of the reproductive organs • Heart attacks or strokes Or if you could be pregnant Can I have it?The only person who can tell you is your doctor. Some GP surgeries don't perform the procedure so you might get referred on to a GUM clinic or clinic at your local hospital. Some older doctors might be less enthusiastic about giving you the implant (these are usually those who aren't as well informed) but longer term contraception is becoming more and more recommended - particularly for younger women. It's usual for you to have a consultation first before you have the appointment for insertion of the implant. They want to make sure you're not pregnant before you go on the implant so there might be a delay and you might be asked to take a pregnancy test. How is it put in?
What if I hate it/have awful side effects?They encourage you to keep the implant in for 3 months to give it a fair chance. If you have prolonged periods, they can give you the pill on top to keep them at bay (strange I know!) until they settle down. You can have the implant taken out whenever you like but as soon as you have it out you're no longer covered so you need to use other methods immediately (and take precautions if using a method that takes a while to kick in). Experience: 22 year old femaleBeforeI went to the doctor and asked for it, he referred me to a GUM clinic and I had a consultation. A week later I had the appointment for my implant. I'd previously been on the pill and felt I needed something more long term. DuringYou lie down, she makes a mark and then numbs the area with the anaesthetic. I wasn't looking, but it felt like she injected a bit, moved it out, injected a bit, moved it out and I just jabbered about anything the whole time she was doing it. Then she went to get the implanon thing. It looks a bit like a pregnancy test. Again, I only briefly looked at it. It's long and thin and the means of inserting it and the implant are all one thing. You don't feel pain, only pressure. The needly bit goes in (pressure, not pain) and then *click* and the implant is in, and the needle thing gets taken out. She then lets you have a bit of a poke and bandages you up and sends you on your way. Pain = they use local anaesthetic to put it in. In itself it doesn't hurt at all. When the anaesthetic wears off a few hours later it aches. My arm hurt for the day and day after. Now I can't even see where it went in, or feel it unless I wiggle around and try to find it. Poking a stick out of my arm is quite the party piece. I dread to think of how much it'll hurt when it comes to cutting out the bit of plastic which has probably grafted onto fat tissue in my body. AfterAnd how is it going? Well, I had one normal period and then 3 days extra straight afterwards and have had nothing since (NB that this isn't the case for everyone). It's brilliant not having periods, no mess, no fuss and you can have sex whenever you want. Recently I've been a bit moody but I think I might be blaming it on the implant when it's just the stress of term, interviews etc. Am very happy with it and totally pleased I got it put in. Before I did used to worry if I was taking it properly (even though I was) but now it's a weight off my mind and I can just get up and go and don't have to remember to take my pills when I go away. Periods = haven't had one since it was put in 2 years ago (and no I'm not pregnant) but that varies a lot from person to person. I'd never had spotting on the pill or anything so maybe my body works well with artificial hormones? Side effects = mood swings, definitely for me. Nothing else. Experience: 18 Year Old Female. 7 Months in and CountingBeforeI did some research on the internet about it. Found some forums and asked questions. I phoned straight up to my local 'Women's Clinic' (what they call it here), asked if they did it and booked an appointment (I first called a sexual health clinic and they didn't do it). I had to say what it was about (so the doctor would vaguely know what that appointment entailed). DuringCame the appointment day and I thought this was just for a consultation. I first went in and spoke to a nurse who took my medical history (a few questions, took 5 minutes). Then I waited for the doctor. The doctor suggested I go on a POP before I had the implant in, because I was on a combined pill at the time. You do not have to do this, I just said 'No thanks' and they were fine. Then the doctor asked me if I wanted it in there and then, I said sure. I'd bee taking my pill up until the night before, but she said that was OK, but use another method of contraception for 1 week. The doctor asked me which arm I'd prefer it in, and I said left. I opted not to have a local anaesthetic because I didn't want the aching and bruising. It goes about the same as the experience above, she pushed it in, took all of 30 seconds and to be honest, it didn't hurt hugely. I just didn't look. Afterwards, she let me poke it, to find out where it is, and then put on a pressure bandage. She filled out a little credit card type thing that had come with the implanon in the box which basically says where it is and when you need to change it. I think the idea is that you carry it around, which could be useful in the event of an accident, I suppose. AfterAched a bit. I've had 2 periods in the 7 months. They were both very light and lasted about a week. I have a tiny spot-like scar on my arm. Which is quite useful when you want to find where the implant is, and not noticeable at all! The only side effect that I MAY have, is blocked sinuses. I've had sinusitis since 2 months after it was put in, I am not sure if the implanon caused it or not, but I feel I should put it down here. Implanon RemovalExperience: 20 year old femaleI had become a bit distressed about my constant bleeding after two years on Implanon. The family planning doctor reassured me greatly and ran through my options - coming off contraception altogether, persevering, getting a new implant etc etc. When it was decided that we were going to replace my implant early [common, apparently] she let me lie down on the little bed and got me to look away and hold my arm out. I got a good dose of local [which hurt less than the "putting it in session"] and she chatted about..oh, I don't know, I was too concerned with the scalpel. Then, when I was numbed, she started to test me with poking me with her finger, then the needle and asking me if I could feel it. I could feel nothing at all so she proceeded to cut a .5cm slit just under where my implant is [right by the insertion scar]. Obviously, bit of blood here. No big deal. The next minute, I could feel a slight tug, and she was rootling around with some mosquito forceps. [Tiny, couldn't feel a thing] and she was gradually easing the implant out. [My skin, it seemed, had become quite attached to it]. She was being as gentle as possible and thus it took about five minutes to free it. After she got it out, she simply whacked the new on into the same place - so no extra scarring. Voila! bandaged up and off I went. No big deal at all. The scar was little, linear and red. now it has pretty much calmed to the extent that you struggle to see it. No pain has been felt at all apart from a little bit of itching and the new one settled just as the old one did. Now, four months later the scar has gone white and gives me no trouble at all. Nobody has even noticed it's there. |
