Implant and discomfort wearing contact lenses

Persistent thrush immediately after getting it fitted, also VERY low mood when period is due and generally more emotional.

Unfortunately the implant wasn’t for me. At first I didn’t notice any effects for the first couple of weeks, however, a few weeks in I started my first period on the implant which lasted two weeks, I then stopped for a week and then I started with some spotting which turned into a full blown period. This pattern was repeated for several months until I was prescribed a pill, to help regulate my periods, as a temporary measure, with the hope the implant would adjust. Unfortunately once I came off the pill I had bleeding for 6 weeks straight until I decided to start taking a combined pill and I have just today had the implant removed. Obviously everyone’s bodies work differently so I don’t necessarily want to put people off the implant but I would say from my experience to give it 6 months and if it’s not working try something else, don’t suffer in silence.

Ive been on the implant for 5 months now and it is so much easier than remembering to take a pill and the insertion seemed far less daunting than an IUD from the horror stories I have heard from that. I have a period monthly which then stops after exactly 7 days then I begin bleeding again after 5 days for another week then I don’t bleed for another month. This bleeding pattern is slightly frustrating but I am used to it now and would rather know I am safe from being pregnant than go back to my natural cycle. I have tried both types of pills and I can say that my mood levels are much more positive on the implant and I have very few depressive episodes compared to on the pill. If you’re worried about the insertion that’s perfectly understandable. I went into the process expecting for the nurse to numb my arm with local anaesthetic whereas she instead used a cold numbing spray, so if you are afraid of needles they may not use them in your local sexual health clinic. Of course, all of my experience may not be yours, everyone is different so don’t assume you will have constant bleeding or no bleeding as you can’t predict these things. Even the nurse helping you cannot predict how your body will respond, the only way to find out is to try it. You can also have this removed at any point if you don’t get along with it, so don’t be worried about that. Overall, I am happy I tried the implant after 4 years on different pills so just try and find what works for you! ☻