Does nexplanon implant cause cystitis?

Having tried the pill and hated it, I was keen to try the implant as it was something I didn't have to worry about or take everyday. I am now on to my second implant so have been using the implant overall for 4-5 years. Pro's are its super quick to get put in once you get an appointment that is and you don't have to worry about it for 3 years. It has stopped my period altogether which is great, it has improved my skin slightly but as someone who has always had acne before using contraception it doesn't bother me. I don't get any period symptoms including cramping, spotting or pain which is another positive. Con's are the low moods, slight weight gain that you can't shift and I've experienced an increase in headaches. The only period symptom I do get consistently are the low moods every month I can pinpoint a week where I feel down and blue. But overall I am happy with my implant, its being 100% effective in preventing pregnancy as well in the years I've been on it, which is a massive weight off my mind as someone who does not want children anytime soon. I would definitely recommend the implant.

Now that I’ve come off the implant I can tell how it was affecting me. Since coming off it I have felt much happier, have a bit more energy, and my brain fog has improved. I was on the implant for a year and when I wanted to come off it the doctors encouraged me to keep trying in case it got better. It didn’t get better and I feel angry I stuck with it for a whole year. My skin was terrible, I had thrush constantly (it disappeared within 2 weeks of removal), I was depressed, tired, no sex drive and then if I did have sex my vagina was dry (or bleeding). There’s no point being on the darn thing if you’re not having sex! My periods were super random, sometimes I would have 3 a month and other times I’d have none. Only positive was my periods were less painful, and honestly I would take period pain over those other side effects.

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! ☻