An effective long-term implantable birth control option is contraceptive implants. They are also known as LARCs or long-acting reversible contraceptives.
A flexible plastic rod the size of a matchstick called a contraceptive implant is inserted beneath the skin of the upper arm. The implant releases the progestin hormone in little, regular doses.
Progesterone delays ovulation, which prevents conception. Additionally, it thickens the cervix’s mucus. Sperm have a difficult time reaching an egg as a result. The uterine lining thins as a result of progesterone. It becomes more difficult for the fertilized egg to adhere to the uterus if sperm do manage to reach an egg.
Why is it done?
Long-term, effective birth control is provided with contraceptive implants. The implant’s advantages include:
- It may be reversed. Anytime you decide the implant isn’t appropriate for you or wish to become pregnant, a healthcare professional may remove it.
- You don’t need to consider it. It must be changed every three years. But unlike other ways, you won’t need to worry about it every day or every month.
- Your birth control is within your control. There’s no need to stop having sex or convince your spouse to take birth control.
- It isn’t estrogenic. The risk of developing blood clots may increase with estrogen-containing methods. So, if you desire a lower-risk alternative, the implant could be better for you.
- It enables a speedy restoration of fertility. You may begin attempting to become pregnant once the implant is removed.
However, not everyone is a good candidate for contraceptive implants. If you have: Your care team may advise a different type of birth control.
- Allergies to any implant-related components.
- A history of heart attack, stroke, or severe blood clots.
- Liver illness or tumors.
- If you have breast cancer, have had breast cancer, or suspect you may have it.
- Bleeding that hasn’t been examined by a healthcare professional and occurs outside your regular period.
Etonogestrel, the implant’s active component, warns against usage by anyone with a history of blood clots on its label. The warning is based on research on progestin and estrogen-containing combination implantable birth control tablets. However, estrogen alone may be at blame for such hazards. Since the implant solely employs progestin, it is unclear whether there is any danger of blood clot formation.
Talk to your medical staff if you think you could be at risk for blood clots. This includes a history of pulmonary embolisms or blood clots in the lungs or legs. If the implant is a safe procedure for you, they will know.
Additionally, let your care team know if you have ever:
- Anesthesia- or antiseptic-related allergies
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Gallbladder illness
- Elevated blood pressure
- High triglyceride levels or high cholesterol
- Epilepsy or seizures
Several drugs and natural remedies may decrease your blood progesterone levels. This implies that the implant may not also inhibit conception. Certain epileptic medications, sedatives, HIV medications, and the plant St. John’s wort are all known to accomplish this. If you use these medications, discuss your implantable birth control choices with your medical team.
Risks
Sexually transmitted infections are not covered by the contraceptive implant.
After using the implant for a year, less than 1 in 100 women will get pregnant. However, there is a greater likelihood that the pregnancy will be ectopic if you get pregnant while utilizing the implant. This indicates that the fertilized egg implants externally, often in a fallopian tube. But compare to those who are having sex without using birth control, the chance of an ectopic pregnancy is still reduce. This is due to the meager pregnancy rate associated with implant usage.
The following are the side effects of contraceptive implants:
- Discomfort in the back or stomach
- Alterations in your menstrual. It could entirely cease. Amenorrhea is the term for this.
- Higher chance of benign or non-cancerous ovarian cysts
- It reduces sexual desire
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- A little insulin resistance
- Depression and mood swings
- Nausea or a stomachache
- Possible issues using different medications
- Aching breasts
- Dryness or discomfort in the vagina
- Gaining weight.
How to Prepare
Before scheduling the surgery, your care team will consider your overall health. If everything seems secure, they will choose the ideal time to implant the device. Based on the timing of your menstruation and any birth control you may be taking.
A pregnancy test may be required before the implant is inserted. Use condoms or another nonhormonal backup form of birth control for the first week after placing the implant, just to be cautious.
If you have the contraceptive implant inserted, you may not require a backup method of birth control:
- When your menstruation is within 5 days. Regardless of whether you are currently bleeding or have never used birth control.
- After appropriately utilizing hormonal birth control, such as combination pills, the ring, or the patch, throughout the first seven days of your period.
- While consciously taking the pill
- If you’ve been taking the birth control shot (Depo-Provera), the day your injection is scheduled.
- The day of or a few days before removing another intrauterine device (IUD) or implant you have previously utilized.
What To Anticipate
The contraceptive implant will be inserting in the office of your healthcare practitioner. Although preparation will take some time, the surgery takes around a minute.
The Process
You’ll be awake and lying on your back, either with the elbow bent and put close to your head or with the arm that will receive the implant straight out to the side. These postures allow you to see your upper arm’s inside.
Your provider will locate a groove inside your upper arm between the muscles. The region will then be numb with an injection of local anesthetic. Finally, an applicator will be using to place the device just below the surface of your skin. The implant might be challenging to remove if it is set too deeply.
After The Process
Your health care provider will check the location of the implant by feeling your arm, and you will be asking to do the same. It could be necessary to use an ultrasound or X-ray to verify that the device was positioning appropriately.
The placement location will be covering with a tiny bandage. To minimize bruising, a pressure bandage may also be using. The pressure bandage may be remove after 24 hours. But for three to five days, leave the tiny application in place and keep the area tidy.
At the placement site, bruising, discomfort, scarring, or bleeding are frequent occurrences.
If you observe:
- Breast growth.
- Vaginal bleeding that is severe or persistent.
- Constant discomfort and calf swelling are indications that you may have a blood clot in your leg.
- Jaundice-related symptoms or signs, such as yellowing of the skin or eyes.
- Signs or symptoms of an infection, such as pain, swelling, drainage, or a change in skin color, at the location of the implant.
- Pregnancy symptoms or signs at any point after the contraceptive implant insertion.
Results
For up to three years, the contraceptive implant may prevent pregnancy. To continue avoiding unintending pregnancies, it must be update after three years.
If you experience these, your medical staff may advise removing the contraceptive implant:
- Auratic migraine
- Stroke or heart illness
- High blood pressure
- Jaundice
- Severe depression
Your doctor will inject you with local anesthesia to numb the region under the implant in your arm before removing the device. The implant will then be pushing to the surface via a tiny slit in your arm’s skin. Once the implant’s tip is seen, it will be gripping with forceps and remove.
A tiny pressure bandage will be applying to the wound once the contraceptive implant has been remove. Usually, the removal process takes five minutes.
A second implant may be put in if the first implant is remove. If you don’t get a new implant for implantable birth control, plan to start using another method immediately.