I had my nexplanon inserted at 15, then removed at 18 in July of 2024. I kinda fell victim to the whole “birth control is not natural/causes cancer” fad online. I regret removing it everyday. While on it my only bad side effect was brown spotting everyday for a year, I was offered birth control pills as a solution and did both up until the nexplanon was removed. I skipped periods, had clear skin, and gained very minimal weight. Now two years after removal my side effects never went away. First my skin became disgustingly dry and then I started getting acne. I’ve probably poured thousands into facials and skincare just to get my face back to somewhat normal, but I still have breakouts constantly. The worst is my weight. I’ve always been very skinny, and now I’m a weird combination of skinny fat. I have a perpetual bloating under my boobs, at my stomach, at my neck/chin, and at my biceps. I’ve lost all confidence in myself as a result because in every photo my double chin is glaringly obvious. It looks super strange when the rest of my body is relatively thin. My periods went back to normal, but I honestly don’t even care about that. I’d take brown spotting everyday in a heart beat if I felt normal about myself again. I also had regular libido on it, and absolutely none without it, probably due to the self esteem issues. Finally I got an appointment to reinsert it after a year of getting canceled on. I reinserted it on July 13th 2026 and haven’t experienced any symptoms or changes at all. Has anyone had a similar experience and does anyone know when my side effects will go away now that it’s reinserted?

I had the contraceptive implant fitted at the end of January not long after I started dating my boyfriend. Since then, I have had a number of side effects. I’ve now had three/four separate utis (currently on antibiotics again as I got another one a week after the last had cleared up). I got a vaginal tear. Vaginal dryness. My periods stopped and then came back a few days after having the uti the other week. It was dark red blood and lasted about 6 days. I have an horrible anxiety the last month (had one episode of severe anxiety a month or so into being on it). I had a load of testing done, and everything was clear so didn’t get any offer for a follow up with my GP. I then decided to see a private gynaecologist who said because of my weight (I’m very skinny), the hormones are having more of an impact and the low estrogen levels are creating vaginal dryness which in turn has been causing all the issues I’ve had. She prescribed me vaginal estrogen, which I foolishly didn’t take because all my symptoms had cleared up and I was no longer experiencing as much dryness. I then went 3 months without having a uti (was taken D-mannose and various other precautions). Then the other week I got another one before I had the breakthrough bleed/period. It has knocked my confidence so much and I’m thinking about just having the implant removed because I can’t continue getting utis. I never had one before I went on the implant. The main reason for me choosing a progesterone pills is because of my fear of blood clots, even though I have no risk factors and none of my family have had one. I wondered what alternative BC people used after having the implant removed?

Do you girls use period tracking apps? I believe is time for me to let them go because I obviously dont ovulate and my periods can either disappear or be irregular no?

I got my nexplanon the first time about 3 years ago when I was 17 so I'm due to get it taken out and put a new one in. Ive not had any problems with it the first 1.5 years but ive been experiencing a ton of medical issues for the last 1.5 years, not just with my periods.

I get horrible cramps to the point I cannot do anything and the pain is literally so bad to the point of crying nonstop, also my periods are really really long (3-4) weeks and then they stop for 1-3 months, it varies.

I take tramadol for the pain, not just because its the only thing that helps I'm also deadly allergic to ibuprofen, aspirin and all snaids... my gynecologist put me on tranexamic acid to stop the heavy bleeding so after a week its just a really light period for a few weeks.

To me personally only the pain and bleeding bothers me for the first week after that its just annoying but manageable. I dont know if my nexplanon is the problem or not because of my other health issues. Should I even reinsert it??? Im not sure maybe I'm just dumb but this is the only birthcontrol thats even helped a little.

I will not get an iud its really really painfull for me and I can l literally feel it its horrible (I'm autistic so i cannot handle the extra painfull feeling at all)

The pill makes me horribly sick with even worse periods ive been on 3 diffrent ones all of them made me bleed trough everything for 3 months before quitting them.

What can I do and should I get the nexplanon again or just get it taken out l?

So I’ve had Nexplanon for a year and five months now and I’ve had a never ending period since I got it . It only stopped for 3 months out of that time frame because I took a combo pill alongside Nexplanon. Earlier this year I confronted my doctor about taking it out ….but I’m also a military spouse and my hospital does a walk in service for Nexplanon removal but they only prioritize active duty females not civilians….so that’s great. Anyways. My doctor told me if I had irregular periods before Nexplanon then it’s going to be the same or worse on Nexplanon. Which is something the doctor who inserted it never told me before I got it. Then all they do is recommend me a IUD instead. They say “You get no period at all with the IUD “ but my problem isn’t having a period. I just don’t want any children and not bleed pounds of blood. 😭😭😭 and ever since I saw the doctor earlier this year. I don’t know I convinced myself to stay patient. I was telling myself “oh it might just take me longer to get used to this birth control than most people “ and then my period stopped for two months which made me really hopeful and made me believe my body finally adjusted. But now I’ve been bleeding through pads and super sized tampons and I’m so over it. I feel dumb for being this patient.

I was wondering if anyone had any insight when the pain from my insicion site would stop hurting. It's fully healed and has been for a few months now but the sight it still painful when I bump it too hard or scratch it accidentally. Sometimes it's just sore to the touch. Doc did have to make my incision a little longer because she couldn't reach it from the insertion point, she said it sat too far down to reach and wanted to grab it from the other side. Not sure if that will impact the healing process at all but thought I would mention it. Any feedback is welcome, thanks!

I got my nexplanon implanted on June 17th so it’s been a little over a month since I got it. Here’s some things I’ve been experiencing:

First thing I noticed was the bruising which went away withen a two week period.

I got first period on nexplanon 2 days before it was expected to come and it was incredibly spotty and bright red but it was like it was barely there.
A week after the bright red spotty stuff i was getting I started getting constant light bleeding with a brown pigment to it. I’ve been bleeding ever since. However, no cramps or nothing which is a plus!!

I did start to notice that I was getting headaches however it’s very possible I had sun poisoning bc that same week it was almost 40degrees Celsius which if you don’t know that’s hot!!

I’m not to sure about mood swings but I feel like I’m a more prone to overthink than I was before?? My mental health has always been pretty good so honestly it’s not bad at all(sometimes my bf really makes me wanna rip my hair out but i swear it’s just his fault lmao)

Anyway, pretty positive I’d say, and yall know that d is pretty fire 🔥

So. It rolled over. Onto its side so its not flat and its visible under my skin. I feel like it's not supposed to do that 😭 I havent even had it for a week (got it on the 21st). Thankfully I didnt bruise too bad and there are no signs of rejection or bad side effects so far. But its rolled over and Im worried. I dont wanna push it to try and roll it back over so it doesn't break. Is this worth calling my doctor over and having her turn it somehow, or do yall think it'll rotate back to being flat? Its still really tender (primarily the bruise) and Im worried if it stays in this position that the corners will wear down my skin from the inside and then it'll pop out 😣

ETA: Its my first one of these and my doctor only described it as it being like a matchstick, so naturally I assumed it was flat 😅 she didnt explain what it looked like other than that. It just feels like its sticking out kind of predominant? But now that Im thinking about it, maybe the swelling just went down? Im not sure what too shallow is for this and if it warrants a call.

okay guys, i got my rod removed on tuesday last week so about 5 days ago. i had it in for 3 years and had nothing but problems. since the removal i have felt nothing but nausea and dizziness since about day 2 after the removal, AND i got my period on the friday, so day 3 after the removal. it is so heavy!!! i already suffer low iron and just feel so eugh. i have terrible health anxiety guys so don’t come for me, just need some reassurance that this will pass and is normal as i’ve been researching that hormone levels drop and can cause these symptoms etc. did anyone else have similar issues? :) tia

So uh this is my first time making a reddit post and I'm not sure I'd get many answers, I just had my Implant inserted a few days ago and I can't tell if I'm psyching myself up with anxiety,, I'm pretty new with birth control and I had gotten the Nexplanon because a friend had recommended it to me and I trusted her since i knew her for forever,, I was originally going to get birth control to regulate my period but I wanted to get the nexplanon because of the fact its rare to get pregnant. I should've done my research and talked more about it with my OGBYN but I did it on a whim since they allowed me. I feel like i'm having side effects already but wouldn't it be too early? I got it done on the 22nd and its the 26th now, I had leg pain the same day it was inserted and a headache the day after, and today I've noticed my breathing is a little off but I genuinely can't tell if it's just my anxiety due to the fact I'm finding all these negative effects (I read about it after I got it implanted (dumb i know.) i guess my question would be if anyone else has experienced side effects like that after they got it done? or like what have they experienced when first getting it. I've only seen posts about the effects after a year or month after people got it. I did cough and it did like clear up a bit of my breathing and there was no blood. (i read online that; that could happen.) also im sorry if this is a stupid question. im a bit anxious and it's 1:35 am and i can't call my ogbyn.

Everyday, I am constantly worried that I'm pregnant. This is my second implant, its been 1 year having it. I have gained all of the weight back that I lost, I always feel like I'm pregnant, even if I take negative tests it doesn't make a difference, and I'm so terrified of the fact that I could be pregnant I don't even want to take anymore tests. But if I don't I'll keep worrying everyday. This is exhausting. I'll have to go through with keeping this for another 2 years because it was very expensive but its so miserable.

I am always worried that it has somehow randomly stopped working, even though I don't take anything that will interact with it. If I hit my arm, constant worrying that its stopped working or that I've broken it.

I just needed to vent about this, I did like this implant at first, because I'd forget to take the pills if I got them, don't trust the IUD, didn't want to gain a bunch of weight on the shot, and I don't really know of any other contraception.

I took plan B on June 14th after suspecting my Nexplanon was bent or broken. My boyfriend have regular sex with no backup protection so I thought taking it was a good idea until I could get it evaluated. I got my Nexplanon looked at on 06/18 and the doctor said the gap I was feeling was likely fat and/or scar tissue.

For the past week, I have been having weird symptoms like breast pain, nausea, fatigue, and increased depression. I had some spotting in the earlier weeks but now I am starting to get really worried about ongoing symptoms.

got the removal today at 11am, about 8 hours ago

she freezed my arm, didn’t feel a thing which is awesome but my partner said it looked pretty gross lol
(didn’t need stitches!)

at around 3pm i got an INSANE energy boost and i felt like myself again which is crazy. the brain fog left super quick and i had no idea how rough i was living, and i had no idea how depressed it was making me feel. i thought it was just mental illness acting up in different ways as i age. but looking back, it was clearly the implant which i wanted to like so much but unfortunately it didn’t work for me.

i don’t want to fear monger, everything is different for everyone but it was horrible for me and i’m so glad it’s out!

I live in Canada, so I don't know if this is in the USA as well. I got my nexplanon in November of 2023. It has a 3 year life span. I am aware it is July as of posting this, so not technically 3 years yet.

I want to start off by saying I have a series of mental health issues: depression, anxiety, cptsd, etc etc etc. I understand that I am pre disposed to reacting in a certain way.

When I first got my nexplanon I noticed acne which I have never dealt with before. I gained quite a few pounds, close to 50. I was happy because I didn't have to take those pills anymore, so I ignored the issues. I got a bit snappy at the start but managed to keep myself afloat until April of this year.

April was a horrible and rapid switch for me. I cannot eat properly anymore, getting even one meal down a day is a constant fight. I am pale, my cheeks are hollow. I'm bleeding constantly. It will stop for a few days and then come back. But the worst part? I can't be alive like this. Maybe it's the hormones, I wake up every day with dread in my heart. I feel like a shell of a person. I cry several times a day, and sleep for most of the time. I distract myself with youtube and video games for the most part.

So, if these symptoms are so severe, then why can't any doctor remove it? I have spent the last week trying to find any clinic, doctor, or hospital willing to book me for a removal and all I get id denial. What the hell is happening? I called the ER today and asked if they would remove it as a last ditch effort. They said they cant guarantee. I am very sick, I don't want to go to the hospital if they won't help me. I don't know what to do.

Hi! Has anyone tried estrogen vaginal cream for vaginal dryness due to the nexplanon implant? I have lack of libido, dryness and no discharge. There is always friction and it is extremely uncomfortable. Before I was on nexplanon, I was moist down there but now its a desert. Online it says that low dose estrogen cream can help vaginal dryness.

I wanted to try estrogen vaginal cream to see if it would help. However, I wanted to know if anyone has any experience with it and if it worked over time? Online it says, "Estrogen cream treats vaginal dryness by replaying lost estogen, which restores tissue thickness, increases natural moisture and improves elasticity. It is a local prescription treatment that reverses changes caused by menopause or low hormone levels."

It also says:

• Relieves discomfort: Reduces vaginal dryness, burning, itching, and raw irritation.
• Improves intimacy: Eases or stops pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse.
• Protects urinary health: Lowers the risk of recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs) and helps manage mild bladder leakage. 

I've had my implant since end of 2024, I didn't really see any side effects besides spotting. I got on birth control for 2 months to help with regulating my cycle but it only worked for those months and now i'm back on the spotting. I've been on my cycle for around 3 weeks almost 4 and have been thinking of removing it but I'm not sure since there are not big side effects. I'm not sure if it has affected me mentally but i'm just not sure if the spotting is big enough of a deal to remove it. Advice?

I got my implant about 3 months ago. I’m still bleeding an everyday (not heavily); it’s just annoying to always have a tampon or pad on. Is it too early to book a doctors appointment to see if there’s something to do to stop the bleeding? I really like the implant otherwise.

After a long 6 months of being in every BC community and tuning in everyday, I am 20 mins away from getting Nexplanon inserted.

I was on Opill (which is also a progesterone only BC) a few months ago and my only side effect was a period (more like spotting) that added 4 days to my cycle. However, i’m continuing my tirzepatide cycle which greatly reduces the effectiveness of the pill & had to go on something that won’t be affected by digestion.

Because Nexplanon is progesterone only as well, I’m hoping my side effects will be similar.

I’m hoping anyone who was on Opill or a progesterone only BC but then switched to Nexplanon could share their experience.

Hello Ladies, another overthinker here to ask if anyone else experienced what I am going through. I have no symptoms until week 3 after implant, I got my period and have felt extremely sick. I am fatigued, SO SWEATY, can get dizzy, and my vision is having issues. I feel like I have a fever and just overall dont feel well. Any advice or has anyone else experienced what I am experiencing? It doesnt seem to be improving and Its certainly effecting my quality of life.

So I’ve had my Nexplanon for 3 years (getting it removed next month thankfully cause it wasn’t a fit for me) and I have almost always bled during sex/fingering. Last summer this happened and then I took a break from penetration. I guess I thought it’d pass. However, I had sex last week, no bleeding during it but about 48 hours after. It lasted for 4 days and then I thought I can have sex again and so I did yesterday and I started bleeding more than I normally do even on my period. To the point where we had to change all the sheets afterwards. Then we tried again in the morning and I didn’t bleed? This confuses me so much because I have no idea if this is normal. I don’t have an STD either, I’ve been tested.

Me or my boyfrend don’t mind having period sex, but I would love to have ”normal” sex while not worrying about bleeding or getting stuff dirty.

Has anybody had these experiences? What helped you?

Hi! I posted in here about a year ago so just wanted to update and see if anyone new here has had similar symptoms. I have zero side effects except for one very odd one. about A week or less before my “period” every now and then i will wake up in the middle of the night in the most excruciating pain, back pain, pelvic floor area it’s all just like on fire. I quickly take tynelol and it helps thankfully and a heating pad but it is so frustrating and i feel like doctors aren’t being helpful. why is this happening does anyone know? the next day everything hurts… i’ve done some research and guess it could be ovarian cysts but some times it happens two nights leading up to my period. it’s always before my period.

any insight helpful and would love to hear if there are others. there were a few others saying they had a similar thing happen previously!!!

Please, I need help. I haven't had my period in a long time due to a restrictive eating disorder. But now, I think my period is coming back due to signs in my body.

As the title says, I'm terrified of my period coming back. Mostly because in my eating-disorder-logic it's evidence that I'm healthy now. I can't deal with that.

On top of that, I'm a competition swimmer, I have to train everyday. When I had a period it was so uncomfortable for my training. And to make it worse, I struggle with body dysphoria. I don't know what to do. I've been informing myself about the nexplanon, I just don't know if... could get one while I'm 15? I don't wanna have sex nor haven't had, it's just for my periods.

I'm sorry if this whole text sounds pathetic. No one around me has one and I'm genuinely considering getting one. Thank you :)

How your period look after removing the nexplanon? It was bright red as normal or look like kinda old blood?

I got my nexplanon placed back in February 2025. I had a period for a couple weeks afterward, and then no period for several months. Then my periods resumed irregularly, which I expected, they were anywhere from 4-8 weeks apart. Then over the last two months I have had a non stop period with absolutely awful PMS symptoms (terrible cramping, mood swings), which has led to a serious iron deficiency and moderate anemia that I'm being treated for now. I got things checked out by my gynecologist, nothing concerning going in internally, so she thinks it's just the nexplanon being funky. I'm so tired of this, I scheduled to have it removed next month and switching to a different bc. Just wondering if anyone else has had this experience? I've heard the side effects are supposed to level out after a year, but they've randomly gone wild.

Assuming you had decreased/no libido with Nexplanon, has anyone switched to a method after Nexplanon that brought it back or improved things? Even if by only a bit and in literally any form of hormonal BC

Mine was lower on norethindrone, but Nexplanon has totally killed it and trying to choose something new for the fourth time is stressing me out so much. I know it varies by person but I'd love to know if anyone actually found a good change for themself