Implant (Nexplanon): Side Effects & Benefits
Side Effects
The Positive
There are many things about the implant that are good for your body as well as your sex life. Here are some of the benefits of the implant:
- It doesn't interrupt the heat of the moment.
- Most implant users have fewer, lighter periods.
- You don't have to remember to do anything for your birth control to work for five years.
- It's safe for smokers and those with hypertension and diabetes.
- It can be used while breastfeeding.
- It can be used by people who can't take estrogen.
- It may improve PMS and endometriosis symptoms.
The Negative
It's normal to think about side effects, but for many people, they're not a problem. Most people using the implant who experience side effects find that they go away with time. It can take a few months to adjust.
The most common side effect of the implant is irregular bleeding, which for some people does not get better over time and continues for as long as they have the implant. This could mean spotting in between periods or having longer, heavier periods. Some people have irregular bleeding the whole time the implant is in. Other people get no periods at all, at least for a while. It's unpredictable how the implant may affect your period. The bottom line is that if it's important to you to have a regular period every month, the implant is probably not right for you.
Less common side effects:
- Acne
- A change in your appetite
- A change in your sex drive
- Ovarian cysts
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Discoloration or scarring of the skin over the implant
- Dizziness
- Hair loss
- Headache
- Nausea
- Pain where the implant was inserted
- Sore breasts
A very small number of people experience serious side effects like the implant moving from where it was placed, nerve injury, or difficulty removing the implant.
In addition to potential side effects, there are some disadvantages to using the implant:
- It may not be possible to hide it completely.
- You have to see a provider in person to start using the implant.
- A provider has to remove it, so you can't just stop using the implant on your own.
- It doesn't protect against STIs.
