Implanon - side effects

[Phillippa123]

I cannot believe I have found this board!! I hope some of you might be able to help me.

My brief history is as follows:

Always weighed around 9st - fell pregnant at 16, had a termination, got put on depo provera as I cant take the pill, weight shot up by 1.5 stone, came of depo after 9 months and had a 6 month break, then had my first implant. First 3 years were fine - still kept the 2 stone I put on but no periods and no other side effects. Second Implanon not bad - light bleeding every now and again - still cant lose the weight no matter how hard I try. Third Implanon got put in 7 months ago, since then fairly regular but light bleeding, still got the weight, headaches, excess hair and total loss of sex Drive!

I am now 25 and seriously considering coming off Implanon. Also to add to the problem I was diagnosed with PCOS five years ago but a nurse told me it was being kept at bay by the Implanon - I have since read it can cause cysts on the ovaries!!

I am so confused which is why I am glad I have found this board - anyone got any advice or experience with Implanon and PCOS??

Sorry for rambling and thanks in advance!

[Guest]

Hi Phillippa

Wow, your story is exactly like mine! I had a termination at 16 and it was suggested I should have an Inplanon too and I have PCOS! Im amazed...but anyway I weighed about 10 stone which was fine for me, the implanon was fine and kept my periods regular. It was confirmed I had PCOS 3 years ago after a consultation with a gynocologist, he totally freaked out when I told him I had an implanon and took it me to a room next door and numbed my arm and took it out there and then with scapel! He said it would make things worse, but infact it seemed to be protecting me from the worst!

My weight kept increasing, hair sprouting everywhere and my sex drive died a death - but I believe he took it out for a good reason and after researching it alot of women have suffered the same just using Impanon and being misdiagnosed with PCOS.

Theres not much you can do about PCOS (I've been told) you just have to work hard to reach a healthy weight, take care of the hair, I wax everything, as for the sex drive well I cried a million tears over that through arguments with my partner and tried everything I doubt it will ever be the same but I just make sure its normal for him he shouldn't suffer too, but thats my own opinion.

I've been on dianette for the past 6 months and it's reduced the hair and my skin is alot clearer most people would never think I had PCOS, as you having it means you just have to try abit harder at everything I have read stories of women who lost all the excess weight and lost all the symptoms too!

Good Luck

B

[Phillipa123]

Thanks for your reply. Its a hard job being a woman isnt it!! Men dont have to worry about any of this!

Are you saying that the PCOS symptoms got worse once you had the implanon taken out? I have heard conflicting advice - one doctor told me Implanon was keeping the PCOS at bay - one told me I didnt have PCOS - one told me it was caused by the Depo and another told me its just something you get and having a baby might sort it out (which is a bit drastic!!). Do you think having it removed made things worse - and how are things now - did you see any change in your weight?

[amandajayne_88]

Hello both of you, first time on here and just read your posts and found i have similar issues..

I have recently had scans done to see if i have PCOS and they have found cysts there but my doctor would like me to have my implanon removed for further testing just to make sure,as implanon effects your hormones and tests wouldn't be accurate with it in. Haven't had it removed yet because its such a great contraceptive, which i'm sure many would agree. Though i have had only one side effect and it being not being able to lose weight. Is this really a side effect?

I'm not familiar with the side effects of implanon but have heard from word of mouth that it can cause this. I have tried everything to lose weight but it just won't budge.

Does anyone know how it actually causes you to not lose weight?? Because i'm thinking about getting it taken out as its really bothering me. I haven't had any other side effects so am not sure if it would be PCOS or this.
If anyone can add anything it would be much appreciated.

[Tunc]

I've had the implant in for 3 months and I still haven't stopped bleeding. My moods are horrible (according to family and boyfriend) and the period pains are erratic. I've had enough, I'm having it taken out!

[coco23]

Wow im just as shocked as all u, i neva knew about this site but glad i have. i was told i have pcos few months ago, i was on the injection since i was 18 doctor recommened it came off it after 3 years and now 2years later still waitin for a period. drs did an ultra sound and this is what they found im 23 with no sex drive wot so ever and cant lose weight. heard there was no cure aswel.

[summer87]

hello everyone,

re: amandajayne, just thought i would reply to your post and say that when i first had the implant put in i put just over a stone on, however i have been able to loose it. it wasnt easy but i did. im no doctor, and it may vary from person to person, but i did manage to do it.

In general the implant has been ok, (lets face it theres no hassle of the pill) yet my periods have gone from being regular and lasting 3 days max to coming and going when they please.

however i feel i will have another one after this wone is over... does anyone know if i will go through the weight gain all over again with a new one?

[milly25]

I've just had mine removed, I had to make the doctor do it, as she wanted me to go on the pill to stop the heavy bleeding. I just wanted to get back to my normal self after 2 years with the implant. the biggest thing for me is getting my sex life back, I've had no interest in men at all. I just think that it has to many side affects, from what I've read here, i don't think doctors should offer it as an option. from their point of view, they don't have to see us for 3 years thus saving money. anyway good luck girls, get it out and use something else.

[becky489]

Hi

I had Implanon for about a year... and wish I hadnt even gone there!

When the nurse put it in, I got up off the bed and promptly fainted, smacking my nose on a desk on the way down. At least I know what fainting feels like now - interesting!

It affected my moods less than the Depo injection, as it has a slower release. However I was a bit chubby back then compared to how I am now, so I probably put on weight on both Implant & Depo.

There was no bleeding for months (yipee) but one terrible day I started and went on and on. There was no way I was having sex while bleeding although is it true some women do this??

After about 12 weeks of constant daily bleeding, I finally went to the docs and they said I should have the Implanon taken out... which I was dreading and convinced was not going to be for another 2 years. OK, so I am a wuss and having it removed was horrible. The nurse kept pulling and pulling and it bled more than I expected. It hurt so much I cried! Yes, total wuss. But there are more of us out there so let this be a warning to you.

So much hassle.... all so I didnt have to take a measley pill every day. Seriously, there are too many potential side effects, I wouldn't recommend this till doctors work out how to make a nice, straightforward implant with minimum side effects guaranteed.

Don't be a guinea pig!

Bec

[debs2812]

Hi all.

Ive been searching the internet for ages trying to find something like this, Nice to know there are other people out there.
Unlike many on here, ive only had my implanon in for three weeks and its already scaring me.
Ive had a slight bleed for a few days which wasnt too bad, but from the day after i had the implanon fitted, my mood swings have been horrendous. One minute im like a crazed psycho spawn of satan and the next im blubbing my eyes out. Cant control my moods and its already starting to strain my relationship with my boyfriend, not even mentioning the fact that my sex drive seems to have vanished and i seem to want to eat everything in sight so my weight is going up.
Has anyone seen their doctor about anything similar? My doc asked me to go back after 6 weeks and keep a record of bleeding etc and if that was bad then she could give me tablets, but im scared that if i keep going on like this with my moods, my relationship will be over and the implanon will have been a total waste of time.

D.xx

[shoney77]

hi peeps just like to say that the implanon is the worst thing i ever had, had first one about 7 years ago had it in for 3 years blead the whole time so got put on the mini pill aswel ( ? ), had another one after 3 years still on mini pill, as i was havin no periods thought this was great for a while, then when i started to want to have a family came off both (implant & pill) and nothing no periods no ovulation zip all, was told i had pcos which now have found out i might not as the implanon can generate cysts on your ovaries if its been in there for a while, (awaiting test results), i have been contraception free now for 1 year and still no periods and ovulation, and im dying for a family, doctors never told me that having these sorts of drugs can make you basically infertile for 2 years roughly, im so annoyed they should of said this before, plus these drugs can also leave unwanted side affects for life even when they have been taken out. trust me dont have this implanon it could ruin your chances of becoming pregnant for a long time or ever, if you have it in my say is GET IT OUT NOW !.

[Maxxx]

Hi, I have had this implant for 6 months now and my partner has said its like living with a nutter and im going to have it taken out on Friday. Sex once every 3-4 weeks is not normal even if i have a 8 month old baby!

Hope i feel better after its out! How long before you feel normal again after having it out? Anyone know?

xxx

Max

[x Michelle x]

Hi Everyone

I cannot believe other women have the same issues! I have had the implant in for around 5 years now,within that time I have not had a period yey! However apart from acting and looking like the human version of mad cow disease all the time, I cannot help draw attention to one issue that I think is worse than we are all making out.....sex.

I dont know about you lot but my sex life is literally none existant at the moment and my relationship has got worse over the duration of having my little stick friend! When I do have sex I am literally trying to convince myself that I am enjoying it,I enjoy just making him happy maybe once a month, yet my partner of 5years has become really insecure thinking that I dont love him anymore...I DO ITS JUST THIS BLOODY THING!

Also sorry to harp on but I have read on a number of occasions that there is a possibilty that it can affect you concieving after removal, it can also lead to leaving you infertile. I hope this is untrue but who do I believe??? I have read doctors opinions and sought advice from a few sources and all the info are completely different please please please can someone help one this? Also could someone tell me how to get back my sex drive and save my relationship.

Thank you all for reading

Me x [/size][/size]

[guest1110]

i had the implant put in about 9 months ago and apart from a bit of bleeding after shagathons [insert giggle here] with my boyfriend, there has been no problems.
i had trouble with the pill on and off for about 6 years and the doctor varied which pills i used in order to help with my acne which varies in severity but after recently moving further south towards London i've discovered that my skin is severely affected by water in different areas and not my hormone levels as i previously thought. the implant has no effect on my skin.
however, i have realised that my sex drive is up and down...then up....and down and i know this is a side effect of the implanon.
i have put on a little weight but the pill caused me to pile on about 3 stone 5 years ago (which i managed to shift through diet and exercise once i came off the pill) so i'm not so bothered about a couple of pounds here and there caused by the implant.
i LOVE not having to remember the pill and as my boyfriend and i have been together for quite some time and i trust him implicitly, not using a condom is also quite pleasurable for both of us.
(just realised i sound sex-mad...i'm really not!!!)
as for long-term effects, i am still to experience any but i suppose as time goes on then i'll just have to see!

[marsh2007]

I can't believe that so many women have a problem with the implant and the doctors are still letting people have it. I think more research should be done on this because the side affects are terrible. I feel like i'm reading about myself on here.
I have had implanon for 2 and a half years. Bled non stop for first six months and was told that it would settle down. Yeah right. For the last two and a half years my period have been like bleed for 4-6 weeks, no bleeding for 2 weeks then bleed again for 4-6 weeks. Sex life non-existent. Husband is totally fed up with lack of it!!
I'm having it out in two weeks and can't wait to feel like a 'normal' person again without the bleeding, bad moods, tiredness, headaches, lack of sex drive etc etc etc.
I really hope that more research does go into this soon as I am starting to worry if I will have any long term affects from it.