Contraceptives

As a female in charge of your contraception career, you may be on some form of low dose birth control to prevent pregnancy but are you doing all you can to make sure you’re protected from STDs? The FC2 offer protection and may be ideal if you prefer a non hormonal form of birth control.

Do You Know Your Sex Partner’s HIV Status?　If you live in Washington State and step into a beauty salon, convenience store or you attend high school, hopefully by now you’ve had access to one of the new female condoms– to try for free. MAC AIDS Fund is a subsidiary of MAC Cosmetics and has put up $500,000 to make female condoms freely available for distribution via Planned Parenthood, the Community Education Group and the Women’s Collective. You already know that it can be risky and often intimidating to rely on a guy for condom ‘enthusiasm’. There are still guys who refuse to use condoms and even if he assures you that he’s ‘been tested’- once is not enough for either of you.

Are you in a ‘committed relationship’? This recent HIV Behavior Study 2009  reveals how this does not guarantee that you are sexually ‘safe’. Heterosexual Afro Americans in particular, are still engaging in sexual acts that place them at high risk of infection from STDs and HIV/AIDS. A study shows that even after a high school education, less than one third of guys used a condom and are not protecting themselves even though they themselves (and possibly their partners too) are having sex outside their current relationship. HIV/AIDS sadly causes the highest rate of deaths in black women and in Washington DC is now rated an epidemicAre you really doing all you can to keep yourself protected? You don’t have to put your male partner on the spot. You can take charge independently of seeing a doctor too.Talk to your friends about the new FC2 female condoms and be brave enough to be a thoroughly modern Millie..You can buy female condom FC2 at Undercover Condoms Sales - Click here to view this month’s sale items including Condoms, Lubricants, and more!!

On Dec. 11th 2008 I told you about a new female condom, the FC2 that was about to hit the market. I hope you’ll give one a go now because my next post will be telling you about alarming findings from a recent study of heterosexuals done in Washington DC. More of that later.  For today, a gentle reminder about the female condom and how to to use it.  Note that the new female condoms (FC2) are made from nitrile NOT polyurethane as mentioned in the video. In case you’re already dismissing the FC2 because it’s made from a rubber material,  it is user friendly for anyone allergic to latex AND it does not make a rustling noise that might put you off trying it.

You can buy female condom FC2 at Undercover Condoms Sales - Click here to view this month’s sale items including Condoms, Lubricants, and more!!

Despite the ill winds blowing throughout the global economy at present, lots of fresh breezes have at last rustled things up for the better on the birth control front in America.

So what’s been happening on the birth control front in the last few months?

Major changes in the US -  thanks to the new president.

Read Obama’s top 10 women’s health achievements, a real tonic,  HERE .

also:

• affordable low dose birth control is now available to college students and women on low incomes
• the FDA has approved the over the counter sale of the emergency contraceptive,  Plan B, for 17 year olds - quite rightly, it won’t be as easy as picking up a packet of aspirin though, the pharmacist will verify age prior to dispensing and also monitor the number of prescriptions filled. The pharmacist should also check for any allergies to the non medicinal ingredients in the product
• in some US states, more women are seeking permanent methods of birth control
• the ongoing recession has cost millions of people their jobs. Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics are seeing more and more people in their waiting rooms. Generally these clinics serve young women between 18 and 24 but now older clients and many without insurance are coming in(CCMC Push journal)
•  the FDA has approved the FC2- a cheaper and improved version of the female condom that is made from synthetic rubber instead of polyurethane
• a small study out of Pittsburgh (only 70 women) may encourage further research into the effects of low dose birth control pills on suppressing the release of anabolic hormones which help build lean muscle mass
• scientists revive dormant gene to prevent HIV transmission

SO….Plan B is now accessible to 17 year olds without a prescription. 17 year olds are, in my opinion, quite capable of taking responsibility for managing their own birth control AND emergency contraception - with support.
If you are 17 years old or younger and sexually active please read on:

• Plan B is for emergency contraception ONLY and should not be used by anybody, regardless of age, as a regular form of birth control

• decide on a long term birth control plan for your own ‘contraception career’, this may mean trialling a few low dose birth control pills until you find one that suits your metabolism or exploring the option of an implant, injection or IUD

•  be brave enough to have intelligent conversations with your parents about birth control if they give you the chance-  if not, take advantage of the ongoing advice, counselling and resources available to you through Family Planning clinics or a health expert you feel comfortable with

• ‘walk in’ and get tested for STDs so you and your friends can brag about being ‘clean’

• have fun with the new female condom if he won’t use his

Plan B does not prevent sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV/AIDS but it is effective in preventing pregnancy if taken within 72 (3 days) hours of unprotected intercourse and certainly within 120 hours (5 days).
Plan B does not contain estrogen and is not a low dose contraceptive - each pill contains 0.75mg of the progestin hormone, levonorgestrel. Two pills need to be taken, each can be taken 12 hours apart or at the same time. Plan B will not interfere with an established pregnancy- it works by preventing ovulation or fertilisation. In medical terms, pregnancy begins when a fertilised egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus.

I don’t relish advocating medication, synthetic hormones, artificial colouring, preservatives and all the other stuff that is foreign to our bodies but when it comes to assisting young people  through their sexual journey in safety, ie. without catching an STD and without getting pregnant until they are ready,  I believe a ‘duty of care’ must balance the pros and cons. Young people need all the help they can get to access appropriate birth control and to learn to use this synthetic hormone (Plan B) responsibly.

For further information on Plan B visit this earlier post.

Sincere apologies for my absence since Christmas.  Family issues both here and overseas had to take priority but hopefully I shall be able to keep you up to date with low dose birth control information at least one or twice a month from now on and I hope you all enjoyed Valentine’s Day without any ‘unwanted’ follow ups.

 Next post-  update on male contraception methods

Yesterday I told you about the newest version of the female condom, the FC2, under review by the FDA advisory panel for marketing in the US.  The good news is confirmed that this potentially less costly method of birth control received unanimous backing-  the FC2 is still highly effective in preventing pregnancy AND STIs.

The lower price (30%?) should also make this new female condom more attractive to women which means that we females can have peace of mind and even more choice regarding how we manage our ‘contraception career’.
“I find it empowering to be able to take charge and put on the female condom myself,” says Linda Arnade, a health worker in Chicago who has used FC for three years. “I like being able to put it in several hours before sex, and the fact that the material feels stronger than latex. I once had a male condom break, but that’s never happened to me with the female condom.” Manufacturer studies show 50 to 70 percent of users find the device acceptable once they have experience using it.

The cost of producing this newer version can be reduced because the new material (synthetic rubber)  allows a method to be used that is similar to the one for producing male condoms. Cost estimates range from $1.40 to $2.10 for consumers and about half that for health care organizations that distribute it.

Safe if you have an allergy to latex- the synthetic rubber is ‘user friendly’.

Most other countries have already adopted FC2 - this recent FDA approval also enables the new female condom to be sold in more countries overseas, as the U.S. Agency for International Development needs FDA approval before it can buy the cheaper version
“Female condoms are the only woman-controlled method of safer sex, and we also know what the birth control pill did for women: it allowed them an unprecedented control over their reproductive status,” said American Social Health Association Vice President Deborah Arrindell.
Mary Ann Leeper, an adviser and former president of Female Health Co said ” Even with approval, it will take time for the company to relaunch it for U.S. consumers. The company is looking for a marketing partner to help distribute it more widely.“  Health advocates say that if the government moves quickly in recommending FC2 approval, the new condom could be on U.S. pharmacy shelves--and in the hands of aid organizations that distribute it worldwide–some time in 2009.  Let’s hope they DO pass on the production savings.

Sources: Women’s eNews-Author: Molly M. Ginty

OK, so you feel a bit squeamish about even trying a female condom, called a femidom but your low dose birth control pill is not ‘cool’ when it comes to protecting you from an STI.   Expect your partner to wear a condom?  Excellent-  but it could be fun finding out if you both enjoy a ‘change’ and he is sure to be impressed that you’ve even considered something a bit different.  All part of the sexual learning curve AND combined with your low dose birth control pill, it puts YOU in the total birth control seat.
If you are happy with your low dose birth control regime, having backup, barrier protection of some kind as well is the smart thing to do.  A downside to Femidoms is that they cost more (between $2.80 and $4) than  male condoms, which come in a variety of brands and cost between 50 cents and $2 a piece. If approval is given to market the new version , the FC2 should be potentially less expensive and more durable than the current female condoms on the shelves.
Current female condoms are made of polyurethane whereas this new kind, the FC2 Female Condom, made by Female Health Co, is made of NITRILE - a form of synthetic rubber similar to male condoms. FC2 is being reviewed by an FDA advisory panel this week for its cpacity to prevent pregnancy aswell as HIV and STIs.
The new female condom is exactly the same design and is used in the same way as the current female condom which is made of polyurethane. Both versions are comprised of a sheath with a closed ring on one end that is inserted near the cervix and an open ring on the outer end that stays outside the woman’s body. Male condoms are far more widely used than their female counterpart, although you could argue that the female condom has the advantage of providing greater protection by covering part of a woman’s outer genitals. Go HERE for dias. on how to fit a female condom.
I hesitate to mention another ‘off putting’ aspect of using a femidom that rumour has it some gals complain about and that’s the rustling sound during sex, bit like putting it in a plastic bag, eh?  Well, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it at least once, if only for a giggle- sex is fun remember?   Barbara Hastings -Asatourian of Contraception Eduction Ltd. in the UK  has been working in the sexual health arena for decades and demonstrates the femidom often- here’s what she told me in an email the other day about the noise issue: “My experience of the legendary “rustle” is that it doesn’t! Female condoms have so much lube on them there’s no noise at all. The dry ones I use in demonstrations make a very little noise, and that might be where this off putting piece of folk lore came from. If there is the slightest noise to hear from a female condom one would have to have ears very close one’s vagina, and be paying a dysproportionate level of attention to it! The other noises around sex tend to be louder and more interesting, and a lot more real! Remember there may be extra pleasure to be had from positioning the female condom’s outer ring on or near the clitoris. Now that has to be worth trying….”
Many other countries, especially Africa,  have already adopted the new female condom to prevent the spread of the HIV virus but the FDA needs to sanction the product before it can be sold in the US. Watch this space folks!  Best prices for female condoms can be found at this site - just type  “female condom” into the search box. I’ll let you know when I find a site that sells the new version too.
Tomorrow I’ll let you know the decision of the FDA advisory Panel.

If you are not taking your low dose birth control pill correctly, you risk being one of the 12 women who get pregant each year while using this popular method of birth control. Why?  Because you are missing too many pills.  Apparently, while we may not admit it,  30-50% of us miss taking 3 or more low dose birth control pills per month!

Today, those of us using low dose birth control pills can avoid many of the significant side effects that the 60’s contraceptive pill inflicted on us but one leading expert,

Professor James Trussell of Princeton University in America is warning us now that even the low dose birth control pill may be ‘outdated’. Are you taking a low dose birth control pill ‘by default’ because your doctor did not offer you other options of reversible birth control (maybe because he /she is not adept at fitting IUDs or inserting implants)?

What can you use instead that will give you reliable and effective protection against pregnancy yet at the same time give you the same benefits (reduced side effects) as your low dose birth control pill?

The methods of birth control advocated by Professor Trussell, at a British Pregnancy Advisory Service conference in London, are either implants or intra - uterine devices (IUD) -  these also last longer and can be ‘fitted and forgotten’. Of course, like the low dose birth control pills, neither of these methods of contraception will protect against STDs.  Paragard is a non hormonal IUD that is safe if you smoke. IUDs can cost from $200-$500 dollars but protection lasts from 5 -10 years depending on type.  It can take up to one year to get pregnant after removing an IUD.  Watch this video on IUDs HERE and there’s more information on implants HERE.

Half of all pregnancies in America are unintended and are due to the failure/improper use of contraceptives.  It’s probably a similar situation in Australia and the UK.  If 7% of women currently using a low dose birth control pill swapped to an IUD or an implant, it’s estimated that 73,000 unintended pregnancies per year would be prevented in the UK. Let’s face it, with so much unprotected sex going on too, it’s unrealistic to think that every lass is going to rush off the next morning to get emergency contraception. If you decide on a home induced abortion and live anywhere other than the UK, you can take your first dose of the appropriate medication at a clinic then take the second at home 48 hours later. In the UK a woman has to go back to the clinic for her second dose.

GASP!

It turns out (see this chart Table 2) that low income, teenagers under the age of 20 who are living with their boyfriends and who are using the contraceptive pill have a failure rate of almost 50%.  48 of them will have a pregnancy within 12 months. 

The bottom line is:  NO type of contraceptive is reliable if you don’t strictly follow the instructions and use it as it has been designed.  Human error causes accidents!
In view of all of the above, we MUST improve the way we teach our children.  We must improve the ‘holistic’ sex education curriculum to focus on encouraging young people and singles to be much more responsible about their sexual behavior, more educated about rearing children and wiser about CHOOSING the person with whom they wish to raise a family.

Too much, too soon
Advertising and the media bombard young people with sexual imagery, encourage instant gratification while detracting from the real ‘love’ aspect of a union that creates a new life. Young people now live in a culture of “use and be used,” instead of “love and be loved.”  Whether the two parties are consenting to ‘using’ each other, doesn’t make it ok.

Source:  Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D., is the author of  Smart Sex: Finding Life-long Love In A Hook-up World. She blogs at jennifer-roback-morse.blogspot.com

There are 17 (seventeen) different types of birth control on the market, apart from the emergency contraceptive pill-  which one is the best for you? For a really quick reference this free, handy  FDA BIRTH CONTROL GUIDE gives you an overview of the various types of birth control available today, their success rates, risks involved with each and how to use them .  Consider using more than one type of birth control, particularly if you have multiple partners, as most types of birth control do NOT protect you against HIV/AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease?

Of course, your initial consultation should always be with a health care provider or family planning
professional but this handy chart will at least place you in a powerful position to begin discussing the
options that are best suited to you and your circumstances.

If You Choose a Contraceptive Pill

You may find that once you have your prescription, particularly if it is for an oral contraceptive pill such as Alesse or Ortho Tri Cyclen, that ordering your contraceptive on line is the most convenient way of purchasing. Repeat Ordering on line reduces the risk of running out of pills at the end of the month (most dangerous time to miss a pill!)  and ordering several months supply at once will save you money.

It’s easy to settle into an ordering routine once you find a contraceptive pill that ‘agrees’ with you and
has few or no side effects but it is also a good idea to review your medication with your doctor at least
once a year when you go for your Pap smear.

If the first prescription does not suit you, it may be that you have AN INTOLERANCE TO ESTROGEN, an active ingredient contained in the combined contraceptive pills and need to trial a ‘progestin’ only pill (often called the ‘mini pill’). Trial a different type of oral contraceptive for a few months and hopefully you’ll find one that is acceptable- if not, your doctor will advise you of alternate methods of birth control that will be appropriate for your age and medical history.

Talk with your Partner about Types of Birth Control

Get rid of the stress, get rid of the anxiety over becoming pregnant, especially if you are a sexually active teenager. I am aware that on this site, even though I try to cater for the guys too, so much information on types of birth control seems to be targetted at ‘females only’.  I realise that there is still a very limited range of birth control options for guys but PLEASE, talk to your sexual partner(s)  about the types of birth control that you are both happy to use. It is the 21st century! Leaving all the responsibility for contraception up to women alone is just ‘not on’ anymore.

I believe that everyone deserves a joyful and healthy sex life, free from the anxiety of unwanted panic attacks (”OMG I’m pregnant!” or “OMG I’ve got an STD!”) and the facing the dilemma of abortion.I also believe that both partners should ‘want’ a child only when the time is right and let’s face it, that may be never so long term options for birth control may be the ‘go’ for some. It follows then that both
partners should be responsible for discussing, planning and managing an appropriate ‘contraceptive career’ together until that time comes around……..and with the right person.  Go get that free GUIDE now.

Low Dose Birth Control Pills Minimize Side Effects

Today’s oral contraceptive pills,  called ‘new generation contraceptives’,  contain much lower doses of synthetic hormones than in the 1960’s when ‘The PILL’  (with 50 micrograms of estrogen) first went onto the market. “So how does that benefit me?”, you may be saying to yourself - here’s some information about low dose oral contraceptive pills that may help you to talk to your doctor if you’re not happy with the oral contraceptive that you are currently taking.

Trial and error with different pill types is likely to be ahead of you -bearing in mind that oral contraceptives are still not the perfect method of birth control for everyone. If you are on the ‘right pill’ to suit your body, you should feel exactly the same way as you do normally, if not a little better. Some women cannot tolerate the estrogen in combined oral contraceptive pills so are prescribed progestin only pills.  Estrogen seemed to be the main culprit where side effects were to blame so low dose  birth control pills were developed to minimise these.

Changing hormone levels within your body can result in side effects which vary for every individual. Keeping hormones at  a consistent level in your body is the job of an oral contraceptive so that you do not ovulate, your uterine lining thins and your cervical mucous thickens. These three events work together to prevent pregnancy.

Pills such as ALESSE and MIRCETTE are called ultra low dose birth control pills as they contain only 20mcg of estrogen. These oral contraceptives are effective at preventing pregnancy but some women find that they have more spotting and breakthrough bleeding with them than with pills containing 30 or 35 micrograms (considered the norm today) of estrogen. Spotting and breakthrough bleeding often disappear after a few months on a low dose birth control pill.

Women who prefer ALESSE and MIRCETTE say they reduce headaches, mood swings, breast tenderness and bloating. These two brands also may be better for ‘first timer pill users’ as a ‘low estrogen start’ to introducing synthetic hormones into their bodies.

Progestin only pills or ‘mini pills’

These oral contraceptives are 90-95% effective at preventing pregnancy compared to the 99% efficacy rate of combination pills.  However,  they do not cause the common side effects of estrogen pills such as nausea, breast tenderness and cramps. The risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and cardiovascular disease is lower with progestin only pills. Nursing mothers can use progestin only pills a few weeks after giving birth as progestin does not affect milk supply like estrogen does. ‘Mini pills’ must be taken every day at the same time with no break.  If you miss just one pill or take it more than three hours past the regular time, you need to use a backup method of birth control for 48 hours after taking the late pill.

Disadvantage of the ‘mini pill’ - apart from irregular spotting and breakthrough bleeding, is that it can increase the risk of ovarian cysts and ectopic pregnancy.

Latest Update

Low-dose birth control pills may increase risk for heart attack or stroke, especially in women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or metabolic disorder. However, this risk disappears when you stop taking the pill (according to a Virginia Commonwealth University study published in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism).

PCOS is a condition that can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin production, heart, blood vessels and appearance.

“Despite the doubling of risk associated with the pill, the absolute risk for a cardiovascular event in an individual woman taking the pill is low - Women using the pill are not going to automatically have a heart attack,” states John Nestler, M.D., professor and chair of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism in the VCU School of Medicine. “However, our findings do raise the issue of whether oral contraceptives are optimal therapy for certain groups of women who are at baseline risk or who are taking the pill for a longer time, such as women with PCOS.”   Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

So if you don’t have PCOS and you think a low dose birth control pill may suit you better, read more about Alesse and Mircette before asking your doctor which brand would ’suit’ your own medical history. Don’t forget to tell him/her which other medications you are also taking. The suppliers I have recommended on line are accredited and also offer the best prices.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Elizabeth Silverman,  obstetrician-gynecologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Dr. Pamela Deak, obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of California San Diego Medical Center.

This post follows on from an earlier one with more information about contraceptive IUD’s (intra uterine devices). An IUD is highly effective at preventing pregnancy and works by preventing fertilisation. Once inserted you can ‘forget it’ and your fertility status can easily be reversed by removing it.

IUD’s are recommended for cost effective, long term contraception and can be used by most women unless they have a history of cervical infections or genital cancer.

The newest form of IUD or IUS (intra uterine system) releases a progesterone like hormone called Levonorgestrel and is sold under the name Mirena (introduced in 2000 and believed to be more than 99% effective) Protection lasts for 5 years- maybe even longer and, unlike the copper IUD, this type of IUD does not have the potential to cause anaemia. The original copper IUD- known by the names: TCu-380A (most widely used) the Multiload ML375, and Nova-T380- is also highly effective and is preferred by some women as it does not contain hormones and therefore does not interfere with a woman’s natural hormone levels. Protection lasts for 5-10 years depending on type.

You will be thoroughly checked by a doctor to make sure that you are a suitable ‘candidate’ for the insertion of an IUD and you should use this opportunity to ask lots of questions yourself, however silly they may appear. IUD’s do not travel around the body or interfere with your heart. IUD’s do not cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if you don’t already have one.

If you have gonorrhea, chlamydia or purulent cervicitis it is not advisable to have an IUD inserted as you may be at risk of developing a PID within the first 20 days after insertion.

Insertion-takes 5- 10 minutes

Your doctor will insert your IUD into the top of your uterus through your vagina during the first 12 days of your menstrual cycle or at any time when he is certain that you are not pregnant. Some mild cramping may occur after insertion. To see a diagram of where the IUD is placed go here.

Careful insertion reduces the chances of the uterus contracting and expelling the IUD and also avoids perforation of the uterine muscle wall. If perforation does happen (rate fewer than 2 per 1000) it is usually obvious and the IUD is removed at once without serious damage occurring.

Can the IUD come out on its own?

Unlikely if it is inserted correctly -but 2-8 women per 100 expel their IUD’s in the first year and usually within 3 months of insertion. Some studies show that young women, aged 20-25 and women who have not had children account for several cases within this range.

Side effects

There is a slight chance of infection if the IUD is not inserted carefully/correctly. Serious complications with IUD’s are very rare.

Copper IUD -The main reason that stopped some women using the copper IUD was increased bleeding and cramping, in some cases up to 50% above ‘normal’ levels prior to IUD use. The new copper IUD’s only ‘moderately increase’ blood flow. Increased blood loss can lead to a decrease in iron levels and subsequently lead to anaemia in women who are already low in iron.

Hormone IUD -can eventually decrease bleeding due to the thinning of the uterine lining caused by the progestin hormone. After a year of having an IUD inserted 20- 35% of women have no bleeding at all. Side effects of hormone IUD’s occur in fewer than 5% of women, (hormone is released in the uterus and is not processed by the liver) are similar to those experienced with oral contraceptives such as acne or other skin problems, back pain, breast tenderness, headache, mood changes and nausea.

What if I get pregnant when I have an IUD fitted?

The chance of you getting pregnant with an IUD insertion is rare. If you do conceive you risk severe complications such as miscarriage so go to your doctor immediately if you suspect that you may be pregnant and if confirmed, he will remove the IUD.

Are there any cancer risks with IUD’s?

IUDs may reduce the risk of cancer of the uterus but read this report for yourself.

A final reminder: IUD’s do not protect against HIV/STD’s.

Sources: Salem, R. “New Attention
to the IUD:Expanding Women’s Contraceptive
Options To Meet Their Needs.” Population
Reports, Series B, No. 7. Baltimore, Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health,The INFO Project, February 2006.

This second post on contraceptive implants is packed with information so it’s a bit long but it IS timely, given the decision by the Department of Health in the UK to introduce a national campaign that aims to make young people more aware of contraceptive options. ‘Doctors will be told to advise young women they should not automatically opt for oral contraceptives and instead think about using newer methods that last between three months and five years.’ reports the Daily Telegraph. Women will be told to consider injections and implants instead of the Pill, in an attempt to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.

Regardless of country, every women has the right to be offered and counselled on ALL methods of contraception, with no bias implied unless individual medical history prevents some types of contraceptive from being safely prescribed. In Britain, it seems that for 3/4 of women, this does not happen (APPG survey).  Surely, for a public campaign, the focus should be on educating and empowering everyone to make their OWN informed choice according to their own circumstances, not steering them to ‘long term’ contraception with contraceptive implants and injections?

SO, to inform and empower you, here are a few FAQ’s and answers to some common misunderstandings about the ‘new generation’ contraceptive implants :
(read the earlier post on the effectiveness of contraceptive implants and how they work)

If you have a specific question, do a quick scroll down to find the answer.

Do I have to undergo any pelvic or breast exam before I use an implant? NO
Do I need a blood test? NO
How long do the new implants work?
Jadelle is currently labelled for up to 5 years of continuous use
Sino-Implant (11) is labelled for up to 4 years of continuous use
Implanon is labelled for up to 3 years of continuous use

Does it hurt to have a contraceptive implant inserted and removed?  A local anaesthetic is given first and most women say it doesn’t hurt as much as they expected though removal may hurt a bit more than insertion.
Will I have a scar? Possibly a tiny one after some bruising but the implant is inserted with a hollow needle in the doctor’s clinic then bandaged, no major surgery is needed.
Will the implant be visible? NO, not unless you are VERY thin but you can feel it under the skin.

How soon am I protected? After 24 hours but remember that unless you use a condom aswell, you are NOT protected from STD’s.
Do I need a follow up visit to my doctor? NO, not unless you have any concerns.
Will an implant make me infertile? NO, fertility resumes with normal bleeding patterns after removal of the device.
Can the implant move around my body? NO. Very rarely a rod may start to come out because it was not inserted correctly or infection has occurred (in the first 4 months). Go straight to the doctor.
Do implants interrupt a current pregnancy? NO and they will not harm a fetus if you get pregnant during use.
Do contraceptive implants cause cancer? NO, studies have not shown increased risk but if you have or have had breast cancer implants are not for you.
Will an implant make me ‘moody’? Generally NO, some women complain of this side effect but the majority don’t- some even report an improvement in mood changes and sex drive.

Will a contraceptive implant change my sex drive? There is no evidence for this.
I am breastfeeding-will a contraceptive implant affect my baby? Wait for 6 weeks after the birth then an implant will be permitted and is deemed to be safe.

I am overweight - can I use a contraceptive implant? YES but you may need to have it replaced earlier than its recommended ‘life span’, depending on the brand.
I have HIV, can I use a contraceptive implant? YES but use a condom also
I have abnormal vaginal bleeding- does this mean I can’t use implants at all? NO, not necessarily but get a proper diagnosis and treatment first then ask to be re-evaluated for an implant.
I have a liver disease- can I use a contraceptive implants? NO, hormonal contraceptives are not for you.
I’m a heavy smoker and I’m over 35 years old- can I use an implant? YES. Contraceptive implants contain a progestin hormone, not estrogen which increases the risk of blood clots. However, if you suffer from serious clotting in your legs or lungs, contraceptive implants are not suitable for you.
Can I go back to work after having a contraceptive implant inserted? YES, providing you do not bump the insertion site or get it wet.
Can an implant be left in my arm permanently? It will not do you any harm but beyond its effective lifespan it will no longer be releasing its hormone and providing you with protection so this is not recommended. You will be given a reminder card with the type of implant on it and the dateby which it should beremoved.

WARNING: If you are taking ANY medications for seizures, tuberculosis or other illnesses they may reduce the effectiveness of a hormone -delivering, contraceptive implant so make sure you discuss contraceptive alternatives with your doctor.

That was a lot of information to get through but I hope you found it valuable. If you want a brief handout to take with you to the doctor’s GO HERE.

Sources: Ramchandran, D. andUpadhyay, U. D. “Implants: The Next Generation.”Population Reports, Series K, No. 7. Baltimore,INFO Project, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, October 2007

‘Family Planning- a Global Handbook for Providers’.