Implant
How reliable is it?
- For the first year of use less than 1 women in 100 wll get pregnant.
- Over the 5 years about 2 women in a 100 will get pregnant.
How it works
- Implants are small soft tubes which are placed under th skin of the inner upper arm. They steadily release a progestogen hormone into the blood stream to prevent the sperm and egg meeting.
Advantages
- Can provide contraception for up to 5 years.
- When implant is taken out a women’s normal level of fertility will return immediately.
Disadvantages
- Periods are often irregular for at least first year,with some bleeding in between, or may be missed.
- Other less common side-effects including headaches, acne, nausea, breast tenderness and weight gain.
Comments
- Implant is put in under a local anaesthetic. This takes about 10 minutes and no stitches are needed. The area may be tender for a day or two with bruising and some swelling.
- Most women can feel the implant, but it can’t be seen.
- Removal is sometimes difficult