Introduction
There are different types of contraceptive methods available these days, like contraceptive pills, patches, rings, and implants. A contraceptive implant or birth control implant is a tiny thin rod that is placed under the skin and produces hormones that help to prevent pregnancy. This implant provides protection from pregnancy for three to five years, depending on the implant used. This implant has many benefits and complications.
What Is a Contraceptive Implant?
A contraceptive implant is a small flexible rod of plastic about the size of a matchstick. The healthcare professionals implant the rod under the skin of the upper arm. After implantation, this releases a low dose of progestational hormone to thin the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) and thicken cervical mucus. This implant helps to suppress ovulation and protect a person from pregnancy for five years. As these implants are radio-opaque, they can be seen in an X-ray, making location identification of the implant helpful. If an individual decides to get pregnant or does not want to have the implant placed anymore, they can reach the doctor. The doctors will remove the implant whenever required. After removing the implant, pregnancy is possible.
How Does the Contraceptive Implant Work?
The contraceptive implant is a small, thin, and flexible rod about the size of a matchstick. This rod is inserted under the skin of the upper arm by a healthcare professional, and then it starts to release a low dose of the progestin hormone to prevent getting pregnant. The hormone released from the birth control implant helps in preventing pregnancy in two ways:
-
Progestin helps to thicken the mucus on the cervix. This stops sperm from reaching the egg. If the sperm does not meet the egg, pregnancy is not possible.
-
Progestin can also halt the ovulation process, so there is no egg produced to fertilize. Without an egg released, becoming pregnant is not possible.
What Are the Contraindications of Contraceptive Implants?
Contraceptive implants are beneficial to many women as it is a long-term contraceptive, and it has various advantages, like easy removal whenever needed and can get pregnant after the removal. However, these implants are contraindicated for a few women with the following conditions:
-
If women do not want their periods to change.
-
Taking other medications that can affect the contraceptive implants.
-
History of stroke or heart disease.
-
History of breast cancer or having breast cancer.
-
History of liver diseases.
-
Have bleeding after sex or between periods.
-
Have serious blood clot disorders.
-
Allergic to any components of the contraceptive implant.
What Are the Advantages of Having a Contraceptive Implant?
There are many advantages of placing a contraceptive implant, including:
-
It does not interrupt during sex.
-
It is an ideal option when a person cannot use estrogen-based contraception, such as contraceptive patches, pills, and vaginal rings.
-
It is safe during breastfeeding.
-
As soon as the implant is removed, women can get pregnant.
-
It might reduce period pain and heavy bleeding.
-
It works for three to five years.
What Are the Disadvantages of Contraceptive Implants?
Even though contraceptive implants have many advantages, they have some disadvantages, which are listed below:
-
Initially, after placing the implant, a person may experience side effects like nausea, headache, breast soreness, and mood swings.
-
Chances of getting acne.
-
There are chances of delayed periods or absence of periods.
-
It will not protect from sexually transmitted diseases, so additional contraception like condoms is required.
How Is a Contraceptive Implant Placed?
A contraceptive implant is implanted by a doctor; this procedure typically takes just a minute, though preparation will be a bit longer. The person who gets the implant is asked to lie on their back. The arm in which the implant is placed is bent at the elbow and placed near the head. Local anesthesia is given on the inner side of the arm. The doctor will find a groove between the triceps and bicep muscles on the inner side of the upper arm, and then the device is inserted beneath the skin using an applicator. Doctors usually insert it superficially for easy locating and removal during removal. If the device is inserted deeply, removal will be difficult.
After placing the contraceptive implant, the doctors will touch and feel the area of the implant to confirm its presence. If necessary, they may use an X-ray or ultrasound to confirm the correct placement of the implant. Then the doctors will cover the site of insertion with a small bandage which should be kept clean for three to five days. A pressure bandage may also be applied to minimize bruising, which can be removed after 24 hours. Some degree of bruising, scarring, pain or bleeding may be experienced that is common.
How Is a Contraceptive Implant Removed?
The contraceptive implant can prevent pregnancy for three to five years. It must be removed and replaced after that to continue protection from unintended pregnancy. Earlier removal of the contraceptive implant may be required if an individual develops heart disease, jaundice, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or severe migraine.
The removal of the implant normally takes only five minutes. For removal of the implant, the doctor will inject a local anesthetic in the arm near the implant and make a small incision in the skin, and take out the implant with forceps. After removing the implant, the incision is closed, and a pressure bandage is applied. A new implant can be placed immediately after the removal.
What Are the Risks of Contraceptive Implant Placement?
In rare cases, women get pregnant even after using the contraceptive implant. If it happens so, there is a higher chance of pregnancy being ectopic (the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, commonly in a fallopian tube). The side effects associated with implants include:
-
Low sex drive.
-
Stomach or back pain.
-
Increased risk of noncancerous ovarian cysts.
-
Mood swings and depression.
-
Changes in menstruation.
-
Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea).
-
Dizziness.
-
Headaches.
-
Nausea.
-
Stomach upset.
-
Sore breasts.
-
Vaginal dryness and inflammation.
-
Weight gain.
-
Chances of interaction with other medications.
Conclusion:
Contraceptive implants are used by women to prevent unwanted pregnancies. This is a small, flexible, and thin rod placed in the upper arm. When implanted, it will help to prevent pregnancy for three to five years, depending on the type of implant used. This method has many advantages as well as disadvantages, so it is important to discuss it with the doctor before implanting it.
