Possible Side Effects
Young women who get contraceptive implants might notice such side effects as:
- irregular or no menstrual periods
- heavier or lighter periods
- spotting between periods
- weight gain, headaches, acne, and breast tenderness
- irritation, infection, and possible scarring where the tube is inserted
- depression
Some of these side effects may improve with time.
Smoking cigarettes while using implantable contraception can increase a girl's risk of certain side effects. This is why health professionals advise young women who use this type of birth control not to smoke.
Who Uses It?
Young women who have a hard time remembering to take birth control pills and who want long-term protection against pregnancy may be interested in implantable contraception.
Not all women can — or should — use implantable contraception. In some cases, health conditions make it less effective or more risky to use. For example, the implant is not recommended for women who have had blood clots, liver disease, unexplained vaginal bleeding, or some types of cancer. Talk to your doctor if you have diabetes, migraine headaches, depression, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, gallbladder problems, seizures, kidney disease, or other medical problems. Also let the doctor know if you have any allergies.
Anyone who thinks she might be pregnant should not have contraceptive implants inserted.
How Do You Get It?
Implantable contraception is only available from a doctor or other medical professional who has been trained in how to insert it. Some local health clinics also might be able to insert the implant.
A doctor may require two office visits: one to examine you and talk about the implant and one to insert the tube itself. When the implant can be inserted depends on when a girl had her last period and what type of birth control she is currently using.
After numbing the inside of the upper arm, the doctor will use a small needle to insert the tube just under the surface. The whole process only takes a few minutes. After the tube is put in, a girl shouldn't do any heavy lifting for a few days.
A health care professional must remove the tube after 3 years — it cannot be left in a girl's arm, even after it is no longer working. The area will be numbed, then a small cut in the arm is made and the health care professional pulls out the tube. The tube can be removed any time after insertion — there's no need to wait the full 3 years, but you must go to a doctor to have it removed.
To avoid an unplanned pregnancy, it's important to keep a record of when the implant was inserted and to either get a new implant inserted after 3 years or switch to another method of birth control.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of implantable contraception varies widely based on location and insurance coverage. It can range from $0 to over $1,000. There is also a charge for a doctor to remove the tube.
Date reviewed: August 2013