Combined pill vs Implant

I stopped taking the pill 2 years ago to see if my libido would improve. Ultimately, though my libido was better off the pill, it has not been worth the horrendous PMDD symptoms that accompany my period. I was experiencing heightened severe depression, anger, sadness, and brain fog in the 2 weeks before my period; I'd also been dealing with nasty cystic acne on my chin and cheeks that was so deep under my skin, that even when my period was over, my face would be blotched and swollen with scabs or scars. Not cool when you're about to turn 30! Having this incessant acne made me even more depressed and at times, antisocial. All I could do was doom spiral. I recently moved to the UK and decided to see a doctor about my PMDD again as healthcare is accessible (as it should be!), and she suggested Eloine for acne and mood fluctuations. I'm happy to report that 5 weeks in, my acne is subsiding and I'm less up and down / quick to overreact mood-wise. My breasts have gotten a bit larger and although I also have a bit of bloating in my stomach, I'll happily take bigger boobs. In the past month, I have gotten some pretty bad, throbbing headaches, but those have started to become less frequent. I have also felt strong nausea in the afternoons, not always but frequently. This is still occurring in my fifth week. I do think my libido is down... but frankly, my husband was more tortured by my monstrous moods and deep self-loathing, and we've committed to working through it and being patient. So far, I recommend this for any menstruating person that deals with cystic hormonal acne and depression. It's been a relief for me.

Used Rigevidon for 6 months, had to stop due to mood. It didn't make me depressed or anxious just a lot more sensitive, took my quite a while (another 6 months) for my hormones to finally balance out again. My weight didn't change a massive deal, I gained a little bit, probably more due to me being more upset than usual. Stopped period pain and made periods a lot lighter and easier and grew my boobs a bit. Also very clear skin which is a bonus. Overall okay pill I just didn't like the mood swings.

sadly got swapped as my pharmacy isn’t stocking it anymore. it served me well for 5 years. can’t really complain

I had 3 implants back to back and really rated them. I felt they personally kept me in a very even emotional space as I didn’t have hormonal cycle mood fluctuations and didn’t experience any persistent low mood on it. My period stopped when I had the implant (which I loved) and had no side effects, which was great as after coming off the implant to conceive found when on no hormones I got terrible headaches and acne around my period which I had forgotten about! On reflection I probably did have slightly worse skin on the implant but not significantly. Around the 2 year mark each time it ‘ran out’ and suddenly there didn’t seem to be enough hormone to stop my periods and had persistent breakthrough bleeding which prompted me to get them changed early each time which resolved the issue. I have since been told you can take ibruprofen for a few days to counter this but have no experience of this. The reason it gets 4 stars not 5 is I really struggled to get it taken out as many health care practitioners are trained in insertion and many less is removal. When I wanted to start a family I was told there would be a 3 month wait for removal which was absolutely unacceptable to me and I ended up getting a family member who is a Dr to cut it out at home as I was so desperate. This lack of bodily autonomy I found very distressing and has put me off getting one again incase there’s a delay removing it, however it was late 2021 so may have been in part due to Covid so have to take that into account

I’ve had the implant for 2 years and it’s great that I haven’t had a pregnancy scare. However, my periods are so irregular it’s a joke. I keep track of my periods on an app called Flo and my cycle seems really abnormal. One month I’d be spotting for a week then my period would be over, the next month I’d either miss the whole month or I’d be bleeding on and off for 12 days or more, stop and be on again a week or 2 later, it’s never the same week every month. I can’t keep up with how irregular it is so I’m thinking to change contraception.

I found the procedure fine. Changed from the pill so I didn’t have to take medication daily which was convenient. I did get acne on this contraception which did get severe so had to change.

Loved that it was bullet proof and low maintenance + Long lasting. Didn't like the irregular bleeding in the last year so changed to the pill early for more flexibility and control

Have been using the implant for years. Went to clinic to get replacement, would be my fourth, and practice didn't put implant in. Only discovered months later. Scary process all round, getting 10+ appointments to locate it! Only to be told it wasn't inserted in the first place.

my periods stopped but i noticed when i wanted to have sex i wasn’t able to get wet easily. i also developed acne for the first time after i stopped due to the sudden loss of hormones. overall it worked and i enjoyed no periods and no other symptoms outside of sex.

took the bandage and plaster off to let the area breathe. (Added new plaster on the second day then removed it once I was sure that the bleeding stopped/wopuld stop. Noticed some bruising, but nothing too bad. A bit of clear, yellowish vaginal discharge No other issues so far!

I feel really happy about my experience on the implant. The first 6 months while it settled in were hard, I had a month long period then no bleeding since then. Emotionally speaking I cried every day for the first 6 months, then it was like a light switch went off and I've been fine since! Towards the end of my 3 years I started to get some break through bleeding so had it changed and a new one put in about 3 months earlier than expected but this was no trouble. I have been on it now for 4.5 years and would recommend to everyone but I know I've been lucky having no bleeding at all. I am looking to get off hormonal contraception and want to regulate my cycle to hope to have children in the next few years and want to experience a normal hormonal cycle so this is the only reason I'm changing from the implant! Overall I've had a really great time on the implant and feel reassured while being on the most effective form of birth control against unwanted pregnancy- which is a nice plus for the implant!

Have chronic thrush. Trying to constantly battle doctors to get it treated but they say it’s nothing to do with the implant 😕

Normal for me I’m a U.S. bodybuilder nothing has change a lot of women gain weight because it can be an appetite enhancing affect. I’ve stayed the same tracking calories my spotting is normals as other off and on some missed periods and most lighter and little do not heavy. Experiencing hard sore nipples. And depression seems more there but not to bad. Do feel tired though out the day.