How Effective is Implanon, Know its Dosage, Side Effects

If one has any of these medical conditions, one should never take Implanon implant: liver disease, any previous conditions related to uterine or breast cancer, unusual vaginal bleeding, stroke, heart attack, liver cancer, blood clot. This is not for women who are pregnant and those who recently had a child.

Implanon implant has a hormone named etonogestrel which effectively helps to prevent ovulation. Ovulation means the release of an egg from ovary. This hormone creates changes in uterine lining and cervical mucus which in terms makes it difficult for sperm to reach uterus. This also makes it difficult for fertilized eggs to get attached to the uterus.

Implanon is used to effectively prevent pregnancy as birth control contraception. Implanon comes in plastic rod small in shape which is later on implanted into the upper arm. This implanon rod can be kept inside the body for three years and medicine will be released to the body gradually providing contraception for 3 years.

Implanon implant placement is done by inserting slowly using a needle (with the help of an anesthetist) into upper arm. This will be done just inside & above elbow. The area the implant was done is protected right once the process is over with two bandages. However the top part of the bandage can be removed in 24 hours and the smaller one in 4-5 days. It is important to maintain the part dry and clean.

There are various factors that need to be considered before giving implanting Implanon which mainly depends on if you are taking contraceptives earlier and the type used. These will help your physician to determine the time of the implant.

You will be able to feel the implanon implant always under the skin and in case you are not able to sense it anymore, you must inform your physician at the earliest.

This Implanon can be left under your arm for 3 years and you won’t have to take any other contraceptive measures for birth control. All you need to do is follow your physician’s advice correctly.

There are possibilities for you to have unpredictable or irregular periods after implanting Implanon. You need to talk to the physician if you periods are long-lasting or heavy or even if it is missed which means you are carrying.

If you have to undergo any lab tests or surgery or any condition that needs you to be on bed, the Implanon implant will need to be taken off from your arm for a small period. You must tell your physician about the implant in your hand and they would be able to determine the best treatment options for you.

While using Implanon, you must have regular mammograms, physical examinations & even self-examine for lumps on your breasts regularly at least one time in a month.

The Implanon must be taken off at the end of third year and you can have another one implanted if needed. Once you remove it from your body your body will get ready to become pregnant again. In case you want to skip pregnancy you can take another kind of contraceptive methods after removing the implant.

In case you feel the Implanon implant is broken or bent inside your arm, get immediate medical assistance.

1 x 68 mg is the usual implanon dosage level for adults. The implant must be removed in 3 years and not left in the arm anymore.

The time determined for the implant must be determined by following these conditions and patient’s recent medical history.

If no birth control medicines are taken in the last month implanon has to be inserted between the 1st and 5th of the menstruation, even if bleeding continues.

If you are changing from a mixture of hormonal birth control medicines, the implanon implant must be put in to the upper arm within a week or seven days from the day last contraceptive tablet was taken or anytime during these seven days of ring free period (NuvaRing) (ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel vaginal ring). Implanon can also be implanted in the 7 days patch free period of contraceptive system.

If you are completely planning to change from a progestin only method, the Implanon implant can be inserted as mentioned here, if changing from a progestin only implant then it can be implanted on the same day as the birth control implant removal, if changing from a progestin only pill then any day of the month, If switching from a birth control injection then implant Implanon on the same day when the next injection is due, if you are changing from a progestin having IUD then you can implant on the same day as the birth control implant removal.

If you have a miscarriage or abortion after first trimester, then the implanon implant can be inserted in to the upper arm same time after completing the abortion after first trimester. If Implanon implant is not inserted with the first 5 days from the abortion after first trimester then you must follow the guidance and advice related to hormonal birth control use in the previous month.

If you had an abortion after second trimester or delivery then implanon can be implanted between the twenty one and twenty eight days postpartum. In case 4 weeks have passed, then pregnancy will be excluded & patient can use a nonhormonal birth control method for the first 7 days post implantation. If the victim is breast feeding then implant after the four weeks.

If you experience any allergic reaction or side effects after the implanon insertion such as swelling of tongue, face, throat, lips, difficulty in breathing, hives, you must get immediate medical help.

Even if you experience any of these conditions, go to your physician:

• Cramping in pelvic area (mostly one sided cramps)
• Redness, oozing or swelling at the insertion point, warmth feeling
• Wheezing, coughing up blood, sudden cough, rapid breathing
• Heavy feeling or chest pain, nausea, pain spreading to shoulder or jaw, sweating,
• Sudden weakness or numbness ( most cases one portion of body), slurred speech, difficult in balance or vision, sudden severe headache
• Swelling, redness in both or one leg, warmth, pain
• Breast lump
• Jaundice
• Swelling in feet, ankles, hands
• Depression symptoms (tired feeling, sleep problems, mood changes, and weakness)

Other Common side effects of implanon are as follows:

• Stomach pain
• Weight gain
• Issues with the use of contact lenses
• Changes in menstrual periods
• Acne
• Breast tenderness
• Vaginal discharge or itching is also the side effect of implanon.

It is important for you inform your physician about all the other medicines you are taking so physician can make implanon implant safer for you. Tell your physician if you are taking any of these:

• Rifampin
• Bosentan
• Topiramate
• Griseofulvin
• HIV or AIDS medicine
• St. John’s wort
• Seizure medicine – oxcarbazepine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, felbamate
• A barbaiturate – Phenobarbital (solfoton), secobarbital, butabarbital.