Implants
Written by Jane Carrasco
How Do Birth Control Implants Work?
Implanon is the name brand of the under-the-skin, hormone implant birth control device available to women in the United States. It is the size of a card board matchstick and is placed and removed in a simple procedure at the doctor's office (see implant removal video below). It is implanted under the skin on the inside of the upper arm and it lasts up to three years and then must be taken out.
Implanon is ideal for women who are not planning on having a child soon or those who, for medical reasons, cannot tolerate estrogen in their contraceptives. It is safe to use while breastfeeding and it can be used by women who cannot take estrogen. Since there is no estrogen in Implanon ,the side effects are reduced.
Norplant, a similar implantable contraceptive device, was discontinued for use because of supply limits on its components. There were problems with removing the implants, which consisted of six rods in the arm. Typically there is no difficulty in removing Implanon when it is time, but it is possible the implant could get lost in the arm, in which case the physician would do an ultra sound.
The hormone progestin in Implanon works by keeping a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs and also thickens a woman's cervical mucus making it more difficult for the sperm to maneuver. Pregnancy cannot happen without ovulation. Less than 1 out of 100 women a year will become pregnant using Implanon proving the implant to be very effective.
The biggest benefit to using Implanon is that it is forgettable and discreet. One side effect, which is also a plus, is no periods at all while using it or you may have irregular bleeding. Implanon gives continuous long-lasting birth control without sterilization and the ability to become pregnant returns quickly when you stop using Implanon.
After insertion, be sure to tell any health care provider you may see that you are using Implanon. Certain medicines and supplements may make Implanon less effective, such as: the antibiotic rifampin other antibiotics do not make Implanon less effective, certain HIV medicines, St. John's wort, certain medicines that are taken by mouth for yeast infections.
Implanon does not protect from HIV/AIDS or STD's. Always consult with your physician if you have any questions or concerns about your birth control regiment.
I Feel You Should Be Warned: This video is of a surgical procedure to remove the Implanon implant. While this video is graphic, it may be the deciding factor you were looking for...but most women feel little to no pain with local anesthetic. (sorry, it is not in english)
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Disclaimer
The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. The content provided is intended strictly for informational purposes to help patient understanding of medical terms and conditions.
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