{"id":2834,"date":"2018-07-26T19:08:19","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T23:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=2834"},"modified":"2024-05-20T16:19:26","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T20:19:26","slug":"birth-control-implant-nexplanon-contraceptive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/birth-control-implant-nexplanon-contraceptive\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about Nexplanon, the birth control implant"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nexplanon<\/span><\/a>, which is also known as the birth control implant, is one of the most effective types of hormonal contraceptives currently available. Once it\u2019s correctly in place, <\/span>the birth control implant<\/span><\/a> is over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy for up to four years, making it more effective than the <\/span>birth control patch<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>ring<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>injection<\/span><\/a>. And it has less of a commitment than an <\/span>intrauterine device<\/span><\/a> (IUD). Read on to see if it could be a good option for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Nexplanon?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Nexplanon (etonogestrel) is an <\/span>FDA-approved<\/span><\/a> small, flexible plastic rod about the size of a standard matchstick. A healthcare provider will implant and remove the implant; once in place, the implant will last <\/span>between three and five years<\/span><\/a> (or less, if you decide to have it taken out). This birth control method\u2014a long-acting reversible contraceptive device (also known as LARC)\u2014works by steadily releasing progestin, a derivative of a natural hormone, into your body to control your menstrual cycle, thin the lining of your uterus, prevent ovulation (the release of an egg that\u2019s ready to be fertilized), and thicken the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from fertilizing any eggs that might have released from your ovaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nexplanon is radiopaque, so your implant will show up on\u00a0X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound scanning, and computed tomography (CT or CAT) scans, which means your provider can use an X-ray or ultrasound to see if your implant is in the right place.<\/span><\/p>\n

Birth control\u00a0implants have been available in the United States since 1998, when Wyeth Pharmaceuticals released Norplant. Norplant was taken off the market in <\/span>2002<\/span><\/a> and replaced by <\/span>Implanon<\/span><\/a>, which has since been updated and renamed Nexplanon, making it one of the newer birth control options on the market. Like\u00a0Implanon,\u00a0Nexplanon\u00a0is a single-rod subdermal implant, but it is radiopaque\u2014which means it\u2019s easier to insert, visualize, and remove than previous iterations of the birth control implant.<\/span><\/p>\n

How is Nexplanon inserted?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>insertion process<\/span><\/a> for Nexplanon (also known as the etonogestrel implant) is very simple, straightforward, and relatively painless. It is considered a minor procedure, but your healthcare provider can do it in their office, and it only requires a local anesthetic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After thoroughly cleaning the area with an antiseptic, your provider will numb the area of your\u00a0upper arm\u00a0where she will insert <\/span>the implant<\/span><\/a>. Once you\u2019re numb, your provider will use a special applicator to insert the implant under the skin in your\u00a0upper arm. The implant insertion process only takes a few minutes, and while you may feel a slight pinch or stinging feeling when the implant goes in, it shouldn\u2019t be too painful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The doctor will make sure it\u2019s implanted correctly before sending you home. You\u2019ll need to wear a <\/span>pressure bandage<\/span><\/a> on the implant site for the next 24 hours, and then a regular bandage for a few more days. During this time, you\u2019ll need to avoid heavy lifting or exercising to prevent disturbing the implantation site healing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some\u00a0healthcare\u00a0providers\u00a0will only schedule your insertion during the first five days of your period; if so,\u00a0Nexplanon\u00a0will provide\u00a0birth control\u00a0immediately. If you do not get the\u00a0birth control\u00a0implant\u00a0during the first five days of your period, you should use a secondary\u00a0birth control\u00a0measure, such as external condoms, for the first week after getting the implant. Your healthcare provider should require you to take a pregnancy test beforehand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once your\u00a0birth control\u00a0implant\u00a0is inserted, you should be able to feel it under your skin. This is to ensure that your\u00a0healthcare\u00a0provider\u00a0will be able to find it later when it needs to be removed. If you can\u2019t feel it, it may not be working effectively, and you could get pregnant. If you can\u2019t feel your implant, talk with your provider. Deep insertion could also make for a more complicated removal process.<\/span><\/p>\n

How is it removed?<\/b><\/h2>\n

While the lifespan of the\u00a0Nexplanon\u00a0birth control\u00a0implant\u00a0is three to five years, you may need to take out the implant sooner\u2014for example, if you are trying to get pregnant, or if you decide that the side effects don\u2019t outweigh the benefits of the implant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like its insertion, the\u00a0birth control\u00a0implant\u00a0removal process is quick, with minimum pain or discomfort, and relatively straightforward. However, it will take a little bit more time to remove your implant than it did to have it inserted. To remove it, your\u00a0healthcare\u00a0provider\u00a0will numb your\u00a0upper arm\u00a0and make a\u00a0small incision\u00a0at the site of the implant. Then, using special tools, he or she will pull the small rod out of your arm and use steri-strips or sutures to close the incision site. At this point, you can have another implant put in immediately if you wish to continue using Nexplanon as your main method of birth control.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once your contraceptive implant is out, you may experience soreness or bruising around the incision site. Make sure to follow the instructions that your\u00a0healthcare\u00a0provider\u00a0gives you for washing and caring for the area to avoid infection or scarring. You\u2019ll have to skip heavy weights once again to make sure you don\u2019t disrupt the healing process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After the implant is removed, you\u2019ll be able to conceive immediately. If you\u2019re not trying to get pregnant, you\u2019ll need to get another implant or use a different method of birth control.<\/span><\/p>\n

How effective is Nexplanon?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The\u00a0Nexplanon\u00a0implant\u00a0is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when implanted correctly, which makes it one of the best contraceptive options for people who opt to use\u00a0hormonal\u00a0birth control. It\u2019s also a good choice for anyone who is sensitive to estrogen, since Nexplanon relies on progestin to prevent pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the implant is not as widely used as the pill, it is far more effective and just as safe. Because it is a \u201cget it and go\u201d type of\u00a0birth control, the likelihood of user error\u2014such as forgetting to take your birth control pill every day, change your patch weekly, or swap out your NuvaRing every three weeks\u2014is eliminated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the advantages of Nexplanon?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Although the side effects and risks shouldn\u2019t be discounted, there are many advantages to this form of birth control. It\u2019s totally private; only you and your provider need to know the implant is there. It\u2019s not necessary to stop intercourse to get condoms (although, condoms should be used to prevent STIs). You don\u2019t have to take medication daily. And there\u2019s no need to keep track of a dosage schedule\u2014you can get it and forget it for up to five three years, depending on what your provider advises.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the implant is removed, you can get pregnant right away. It is also a safe option for <\/span>breastfeeding<\/span><\/a> women who want highly effective contraception; in fact, if you\u2019re taking birth control at all while breastfeeding, a progestin-only contraceptive is your safest bet. You can get the birth control implant four weeks after giving birth. It also won\u2019t change how much breast milk you\u2019re producing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the common side effects of Nexplanon?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The majority of people using\u00a0Nexplanon\u00a0do not experience long-term\u00a0<\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a>, and most\u00a0side effects\u00a0go away after three to six months as your body adjusts to the implant. However, you will want to consider if the risks of these possible side effects are acceptable for you:<\/span><\/p>\n