• What Is the Birth Control Implant?
Birth control implants are devices that go under a woman’s skin. They release a hormone that prevents pregnancy.
The implant available in the U.S. is Nexplanon. It’s a newer version of the implant Implanon. You might hear people call them arm bars.
The implant is a plastic rod about the size of a matchstick. It contains a form of the hormone progesterone called etonogestrel.
• How Does the Implant Work?
Once the implant is placed under your skin, it releases small amounts of etonogestrel. The hormone works on your pituitary gland, which tells your ovaries not to release eggs. It also makes the mucus in your cervix thicker. This makes it harder for sperm to get to any eggs that are released.
• How Effective Is the Birth Control Implant?
Hormonal implants work more than 99% of the time. How do they stack up to other birth control methods?
Intra-uterine devices (IUDs) are also 99% effective.
Birth control injections are 94% effective.
The pill is 91% effective.
But none of these methods protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Only condoms prevent STDs.
• What Are the Benefits of the Implant?
As with any type of birth control method, implants have pros and cons.
Advantages include:
- They work. Fewer than 1 in 100 women using an implant will get pregnant each year.
- Easy to use. Unlike some birth control options — like condoms, patches, shots, rings, and pills — the implant works no matter what. You don’t have to worry about using it incorrectly or remembering to replace or take it often.
- Fast reversal. If you want to get pregnant, you can get started on that right after you get the implant taken out.
- Less painful periods. In studies of women using implants, painful periods got better.
- Lighter or no periods. Your period might get shorter, or even stop completely.
• Birth Control Implant Side Effects
Possible side effects include problems from putting the implant in, like:
- Pain
- Bruising or swelling
- Redness
- Infection
- Scarring
Other possible side effects include:
- Irregular menstrual bleeding
- Depression and other mood changes
- Weight gain
- Abdominal pain or nausea
- Acne
- Breast pain, back pain, or headaches
- Vaginitis
- Dizziness
- Noncancerous ovarian cysts
