The methods to prevent pregnancy range from a variety of external ones such as condoms, oral pills such as birth control or the morning-after pill as well as internal non-surgical procedures such as using an intra-uterine device.
In this article:
What is Nexplanon?
How Effective is this Implant?
How Can I Get the Implant?
What Happens When the Implant is Inserted?
Benefits and Side Effects
Can You Ovulate on Nexplanon?
All You Need to Know About Getting Pregnant with Nexplanon
What is Nexplanon?
The birth control implant (also known as Nexplanon) is a tiny, thin rod about the size of a matchstick. The implant releases hormones into the body that prevent from getting pregnant. A doctor inserts the implant into the arm and that’s it protected from the pregnancy for up to 5 years.
The hormone in the birth control implant prevent pregnancy in two ways –
- Progestin thickens the mucus on the cervix which stops sperm from swimming through to the egg. When sperm can’t meet up with an egg, pregnancy can’t happen.
- Progestin can also stop eggs from leaving the ovaries (called ovulation), so there’s no egg to fertilize. When eggs aren’t released, pregnancy can’t happen.
The implant lasts for a long time up to 5 years but it’s not permanent.
How Effective is this Implant?
The implant is one of the best birth control methods – it’s more than 99% effective. That means fewer than 1 out of 100 people using Nexplanon will get pregnant each year. It doesn’t get much better than that.
The implant is so effective because there’s no chance of making a mistake. Since it’s in the arm, can’t forget to take it or use it correctly. It protects from pregnancy all day, every day for up to 5 years. if you decide to get pregnant, a doctor can take it out and can get pregnant right away.
The implant doesn’t protect from STDs, so use condoms along with the implant to help protect from both pregnancy and STDs. That’s how sex is made worry-free.
If the Nexplanon is taken during the first 5 days of the period, pregnancy is protected right away.
How Can I Get the Implant?
The implant can get from the local medical shops or health centers or from doctors. it is totally free (or low cost) with most health insurance plans, Medicaid, and some other government programs.
What Happens When the Implant is Inserted?
A doctor uses a special device to place the implant under the skin of the arm. Insertion is really fast and arm is numbed so it won’t hurt.
First, the doctor will ask some questions about the health to see if the implant is a good method. Also, a physical examination is done. The doctor gives a shot to numb a small area of the arm. Then, a special inserter tool to slide the implant under the skin. Putting the implant in only takes a few minutes.
Most people just feel a little pinch or stinging when getting the numb shot. After that, we shouldn’t be able to feel the implant being inserted. After the pain medication has worn off, the arm may ache a little where the implant was inserted but it goes away quickly.
May get some tenderness or swelling around the implant for a few days and it may look bruised for a week or two. The doctor will tell how to wash and take care of the skin around the implant for the first couple of days.
Benefits and Side Effects
The implant is super effective and convenient to prevent pregnancy. Nexplanon gives great, long-term protection against pregnancy it’s more than 99% effective. The implant works as well as sterilization or IUDs. The implant is convenient and private. It makes the periods better by cutting down on period cramps. Also, it makes the period lighter. Implants only have one hormone as compared to many hormonal birth control methods contain two hormones. Nexplanon is reversible as can get pregnant after taking out the implant.
The hormones in the implant may cause side effects for some people but usually go away after a few months. So if you got the implant and have side effects that bother, try to stick it out and give the body a chance to adjust to the hormones. The most common birth control implant side effect is spotting (light bleeding or brown discharge), especially in the first 6-12 months. Sometimes the implant causes long-term spotting or periods can get longer and heavier. But for most people, the implant makes the periods way lighter. And some people even stop getting a period at all while on the implant. Other possible side effects are –
- Headaches
- Breast pain
- Nausea
- Weight gain
- Ovarian cysts
- Pain or bruising on the arm where the implant was inserted
- An infection where the implant was inserted
If not fine with the implant, contact the doctor, and try a different birth control methods.
Can You Ovulate on Nexplanon?
Nexplanon is a hormone implant that prevents ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). This medication also causes changes in the cervical mucus and uterine lining making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.
Conclusion –
The implant is very safe for most people but all medications have some risks and side effects. The doctor will figure out if the implant is safe or not. This is 99% effective.
References –
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