The Implanon is Gone
“4 out of 5 women it works for,” the doctor said. “That means you are the unlucky 20%.”
The implanon is so damn good as a form of contraception that it forces you into abstinence because of the constant bleeding. Well for 20% of people anyway.
I tried it, I loved the convenience of the set and forget method.
Photo: http://info.surgecosmetic.com
Except it was hard to forget, because every second week my friends came a visiting, when it should have been once a month.
I tried the hormone tablets to zap the cycle back into how it should be, but they failed. I kept giving it one more try to see if my body settled down and got used to it.
After five months, I said ENOUGH.
Back to the bloody pill. I have to set my alarm for 4pm every day so I do not forget. I do not want an accidents. The doctor told me of another really great set it and forget contraceptive form called Mirena.
I’ve got to do my google research first, but if you have any advice on this one leave it below.
If I don’t go with that one, Craig might have to get the snip.
Comments
Kate
Hi Caz,
I pretty much despise the pill, because I’m so busy I often forget it and that causes more stress than it’s worth… The doctor wouldn’t give me the ‘set and forget’ thing in my arm that’s supposed to last for 5 years, because at 26 he said even though I don’t want kids now, I could in 6 months or a year and that would be more hassle.
So I switched to the Depo shot every 3 months, but found found that I quickly packed on the kilos with all the extra hormones in my body, so after 2 shots, I had to go off that as well.
I was keen for something without hormones, so that it wouldn’t affect my weight I was already struggling with.
So I got the IUD – just the copper wire, rather than the Merina which has hormones and releases them. I haven’t had any issues (besides the pain of getting it put it – it felt like they inserted the worst period cramps in me! but I’ve never had babies either, so my tolerance is pretty low). I like knowing that there are no extra hormones in me now, as I read some pretty crazy reviews of Merina when I was researching.
Good luck 🙂
Caz
Ha Ha. Better start building up that pain tolerance!! Now that is some cramps you have to suffer. I might have to check out some more Merina reviews- I don’t want extra weight which is something I feel the implanon did as well
Beverley | Pack Your Passport
Not sure I really want to announce this to this ENTIRE world but, hey, here’s goes anyway!
I’m got the implanon fitted before I left England and haven’t had any problems except;
– I get no periods. At all. It’s good but weird at the same time.
– I feel like it’s made me gain a bit of weight, it messes with everyone’s hormones differently but this is one thing that I could really do without!
I’ve not actually heard of Mirena, might check it out. I’ll have to have the implanon out while I’m in NZ as it would have been in for three years. Wondering if I should have it replaced or look for something different that’s still going to work with living outside of England and moving around.
Hope you find something that works specifically for you, we’re all so different 🙂
Caz
I was wondering if my issues with weight lately have had something to do with the implanon. I wasn’t sure because life had been hectic but it felt like I was putting on weight far too quickly. It was up and down like a yo yo. I would do my cleansing diet and exercise but as soon as I stopped it would come piling back on and I don’t usually put weight on that quickly. I was also wondering if it was my age!! Will be interesting to see what happens now the implanon is out.
The Mirena sounds good from what I have read so far. And it lasts for five years. Another bad thing about the pill is it is more expensive then the one off, once every five year other options.
Lisa Wood
Sorry – not got any good advice as we only had to look at each other and we were pregnant!! Dave has been to the doctor and is fixed (he had to go after our last baby boy or he was not allowed near me!!!)
Be interesting to hear if Mirena does work?
Caz
We are the same way Lisa. I’ve tried officially three times and been pregnant three times!! So I really need something that is very good and does not rely on my memory!
Rachel from Redcliffe Style
I am onto my 3rd Implanon now. I love it. I haven’t had a period at all and now I have discovered I can blame my fat arse on something. Thanks Rachel xx
Caz
That is funny. One good thing about being pregnant was that I had that excuse too!
Christine
I have the Mirena IUD and love it. It was really hard to get the pill prescribed in advance for when I’m traveling long-term, and I never wanted to have to worry about running out in a foreign country. So far I’ve had the IUD for just over a year, and I don’t get a period anymore (which means I don’t have to search for tampons in SE Asia) and I haven’t had any weird hormone side effects. Really recommend it!
Caz
IT is sounding very convenient. I haven’t really found anything bad about it yet, so I might just go and get it done.
Beth Hardy
I have had the Mirena IUD for 2 years and it was very easy to use. Go to the doctor, get it put in, and forget about it. The success rate of NOT getting pregnant is even higher than the pill (due to user error with the pill) and for a long time, I didn’t have a period at all. My period did come back, but it was very light and only lasted a few days. Also, you can have it in for 5 years! It has been a great form of contraceptive and I would recommend it. Good luck with your search.
Caz
Oh thanks so much for letting me know Beth. I am feeling a little more comfortable with the idea of trying the Mirena. I am so hopeless with remembering the pill that I really need to do this or Craig has to get snipped. We are too old to have any more kiddies!! Which is a good thing because I would probably want five more if I was younger- Savannah is at that cute age which makes you just want more!!
Lissie
I took the pill pretty much for 30 years – don’t need it anymore and its pretty weird not having a pill to take in the evening! Why 4pm for goodness sakes? I used to take it last thing at night – but first in the morning would work as well. The only issue is when you are flying mulitple timezones – which is confusing. Pretty much though you have about 12 hours to remember the pill.
And yes there were times I forgot – so took the “morning after” – or you just take all the pills you missed together – worked for – makes some people a bit nauseous.
Frankly though – I’ve always regretted backing off the Dr who told me at 21 that I didn’t really want to be sterlized – that I’d change my mind. I never did – and it would have been the simplest solution. In your case I’d make Craig do it 🙂
Caz
4pm is just the time I take it of an afternoon, I think its the easiest time for me to manage. For the particular one I am on it has to be taken at the same time every day- I am not sure why, but it is annoying.
I think I am going with making Craig do it! Easy solution.
Tara Mauger
Hey Caz…
wow, anything ‘artificial’ that we put into our bodies most certainly cause some side affects… I’ve been there too.
Here’s something I’ve learnt about me and my body: there are actually only a few days out of a whole month that a woman can fall pregnant! I read some amazing books on natural fertility and it’s all about tuning into your own body… at first it sounded like hard work but WOW do I have a better life for it! I’m so in tune with my bodies rhythm I just ‘know’ when not to have sex and when to… this is a really empowering thing for women to ’embody’….
Some really great reads are Consciously Female & Natural Fertility… I think you’ll really like them, you seem like that kind of women who likes to ’embody’ yourself more so 🙂
Caz
I have some friends who use this method and love it too. I don’t think I could ever trust myself enough to get it right, and the thought of slipping up puts so much fear into me!! I have been off artificial contraception since 2005 which could be why my body is rejecting it. I think Craig might have to step up to the plate for this one.
Monique
Hi Caz,
I thought I might leave a comment on this as I have had so much trouble with the pill in the past (moody, weight gain etc). I had tried every brand of Pill. I had the Mirena put in under anaesetic as I have only had C- section births and the Doctor seemed to think I would pass out as my cervix has never dialated before! The reason I went for the Mirena was that I had severe heavy bleeding. The Mirena was fantastic. My periods were so light that I would only need to use a liner instead of maternity pads! It was the best and the biggest bonus was that it was contraception. Good luck and I hope it could be the answer for you too.
Caz
Good call by the doc. I nearly passed out thinking of it. Hope I never have to go down the dialating cervix road again!! I wonder if they’ll put me under to put it in. I’m a little scared at the thought.
Beth Hardy
And P.S….almost every friend that we have that is done having kids has had a vasectomy (sp??). I have heard only good things about them (this is coming from the men) and it is a very simple procedure. If you really don’t want any more kids, I would be leaning towards this choice. Good luck!
Caz
I think your right Beth. Bout time Craig took one for the team!!
Belinda Carpenter
I’m going through the same thing Caz. I had the Implanon inserted. After one week I started bleeding and haven’t stopped! It’s driving me crazy. I’m going to make an appointment to have it taken out. Disappointing as I’m very limited in what I can take when breastfeeding. A friend of mine has the Mirena and can’t talk highly enough about it. She gets some spotting two days each month and that’s it!
Caz
Maybe you can take the Pimula tablets which is supposed to zap your body back into its proper schedule. I bled for three weeks when I first had it and then the doc gave me those which then turned the constant bleeeding into every other week instead 🙂 Might work for you though. I’m just worried the Mirena will do the same thing. If I’m going to have that put in then I want it in for awhile.