Contraceptive implant information - Portland Medical Practice
The contraceptive implant (Nexplanon) is a small flexible plastic rod containing hormone progestogen, that's placed under the skin in your upper arm.
How effective is the implant? It is 99% effective.
How does an implant work? The main way it works, is to stop your ovaries releasing an egg each month (ovulation). It also thickens the mucus from your cervix making it difficult for sperm to reach an egg.
When can you have it: You can have it any time during your menstrual cycle, even when you are on your period.
We recommend that, you either avoid having intercourse from your last menstrual period or continue to use your current method of contraception to ensure that you are not pregnant on the day of insertion.
What are the advantages of an implant?
- It is 99% effective and works for three years.
- It is suitable for use following childbirth and during breast-feeding.
- Your fertility will return to normal as soon as the implant is taken out.
What are the disadvantages of an implant?
- It may change your periods making them stop completely, irregular or sometimes heavier.
- In rare cases, bleeding or infection can happen on site of implant. Please contact surgery if you experience this.
- It does not protect you again sexually transmitted infections.
What to expect on the day
- Please bring a urine sample with you as you will be offered a pregnancy test on the day before the procedure.
- A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area on the inside of your upper arm. The implant is then inserted under your skin – it only takes a few minutes to put in and feels like having an injection. You won’t need any stitches and Steristrips, dressing and bandage is applied to skin.
- Removal of implant only takes a few minutes and doctor will make a tiny cut in your skin to gently pull the implant out. Your fertility resumes straight away.
Advice following insertion:
- Keeping the area clean and dry will minimise the risk of infection.
- You can remove the bandage after 24 hours.
- The steristrips and any adhesive dressing should be left undisturbed for a further 3-5 days.
- Please continue to use your existing method of contraception, condoms or avoid having sex for 7 days after insertion as implant takes 7 days to become effective, if not inserted within first 5 days of your periods.
You will be provided with a card with removal date.