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I definitely felt an increase in my sex drive after getting the Implant removed (how annoying!). My periods became regular and SO MUCH SHORTER only 2-3 months after having it removed. My periods used to last 7-10 days (and then you'd sometimes get spotting after that!) now they last 2-3 days which gives me more opportunities to have sex without my body killing the mood. I also feel so much more present in my mind, brain fog etc has subsided.

Apart from getting it changed every 3 years this contraception is totally management free and painless to receive. I benefitted from using the implant between the age of 16 until I was 27 (so was on my 4th implant when I had it removed and not replaced). The consistent downside of this contraception for me was the spotting between periods/the irregular periods - sometimes you would only get a week break between spotting and periods! Often my periods would last 5-10 days. I found that the Implant worked best with my cycle in the first 12-24 months after incision because my periods were predictable (though not 4 weekly, more like 8-12 weekly) with no spotting inbetween; however once you neared the final few months before needing it changed periods seemed all over the place. (I must say, though, that I have a few friends who had no periods and total hassle free contraception - I think it's luck of the draw.)

I ended up getting it removed early last year because I found I was starting to get serious brain fog coupled with a very low sex drive and feeling constantly down for no justifiable reason. I almost started to feel absent from any emotion and quite robotic. I must stress, however, I think this is more a result of 11 years of continuous hormonal contraception and not something I felt was an after effect of the Impant specifically. I can honestly say I felt no immediate side effects when getting the Implant in and the pros outweighed the cons in my mind. I've seen research to suggest it is beneficial to take breaks from hormonal contraception which is what I'm doing now. I would still revert back to using the Implant when needed as I got to a stage where I could predict which cycles would result in spotting and which wouldn't. The breaks between periods felt a huge plus for me.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-7fc12552-e3a9-4aba-90e9-43efd6828adf

Within a few months I returned to my normal self and to be honest I'll never quite know how much of it was down to the implant, but like a lot of women I almost feel traumatised by my experience with hormonal contraception. We need better alternatives :(

Insertion was fine, completely painless. First few months seemed fine too, and my periods stopped which to me was a bonus. But then I started having really bad mood swings, feeling really sensitive, crying for no reason, constant feelings of hopelessness, I was so depressed I ended up on anti-depressants. There was a lot going on for me at the time so it only occurred to me after several months and reading some other women's experiences online one night that it was potentially down to the implant. I made a appointment the next day to have it removed and it was slightly more painful than having it put in, but it was so worth it I felt so relieved!!

Nexplanon implant-review-id-29e8f8c3-26d1-465a-8a1f-0cd5bcea2234

In theory the implant is great but it has really effected my periods which became heavy, irregular and more frequent. I now have at least 2 periods every month!

Nexplanon implant-review-id-e7c17526-bea1-4161-9e38-1a6000b8136b

Have found that the implant doesn't agree with me at all and I'm having it removed in a couple of days.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-816e4f7b-a297-4115-8ac1-62401dc55596

After I stopped this my emotions went back to normal and I had a normal period. I then stopped having periods altogether on the progestogen only pill.

I would not have a period for 3 months then would bleed for 3 weeks straight. I would have pregnancy symptoms every now and again (breast tenderness, nausea, plus no bleeding) and would take tests that were always negative. I experienced depression and low mood, and mood swings more than anything. I grew darker body hair on my belly and my skin was poor with lots of acne that I couldn't get rid of traditionally. This was mostly noticeable when I had it removed and switched to the progestogen only pill after 3 years, and I felt better.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-f933d845-3c2f-403b-b474-5c85566335fd

I have tried a number of combined and mini-pills before and had terrible side effects. i switched to implant ~4 years ago, so i'm now on my 2nd implant (each last 3 years). procedure is fine, give a general anesthetic and it's quite quick. I like that it's easy to use and nothing to think about for a few years. Periods completely stopped (but they did on pill as well), breasts super tender after my first one, couldn't stand them being touched. Also get a lot of night sweats that seems to coincide with the time i've been on implant.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-01bb019f-a199-4722-8825-bfdeacf4a64c

I had my first implant 18-21 whilst at University I didn't notice any weight gain, abnormal mood swings and my periods stopped which I liked. I took a year off any hormonal contraception and used condoms then went to get a new implant just over a year ago. Unfortunately this time round has been a negative experience, I have experienced horrible mood swings, feeling really low for no apparent reason, irregular periods sometimes lasting 2 weeks coming off for a week and starting again. In line with my low moods this time round I have experienced times with a loss of sex drive.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-9c6a05c4-b15e-49e5-b628-2079089c1a97

My first one was fine (no side effects), my second one I have a whole list of side effects, so even if you think it's fine be aware your body reacts differently each time you get a new one

Nexplanon implant-review-id-c8963353-2171-4867-8c16-a93942f919b5

In the beginning it was really good, stopped my periods and was great to have something in and forget about it. However, what started as a breakthrough bleed ended up being 6 months on my period. My mood was also impacted I was always either crying or angry. One of the worst ones I ever tried 

Nexplanon implant-review-id-044936da-7049-4a3a-893b-da2fd7958baa

My emotions went back to normal & it felt like a fog had been lifted! 

I didn’t realise how anxious, moody & a huge pain in the a** I was being until I stopped taking it!

The one thing I wish the doctors had told me more about was the process of having it taken it. They say they just “pop” it out but my experience was far from a “pop”... 

The GP said the implant ‘fused’ to the skin around it & embedded itself in my arm. When I quizzed her about it, she said it was “quite common”; regardless of the fact she ‘forgot’ to tell me this when she put it in. 

I now have a 2cm scar on the inside of my left arm*. 

If it had worked for me then I wouldn’t have minded it being gouged out but it didn’t work for me at all & now I have another scar on my arm I wasn’t expecting. 

Morale of the story, always ask questions to your doctor before going ahead with it!

*this doesn’t happen to everyone

Nexplanon implant-review-id-d89ee9f0-f935-4194-bf49-bd352a2e7957

I still get bad cramps and heavy periods but less mood swings now that I have stopped. 

I started taking Rigevidon to help with mood swings, bad cramps and heavy bleeding and it just made all of them worse. I was missing school on my period and had brain fog a lot of the time as well as having even worse mood swings to the point where there was no point continuing with it. I was prescribed it when I was 13/14 purely for the symptoms above and not offered any alternatives except for the pill

Combined pill-review-id-2ffbf5f7-633d-4f74-9652-af1a15ec9519

I was previously using Mercilon after Loestrin were not produced anymore. Mercilon made me so miserable, it changed my moods made me super sensitive, I would literally cry for insignificant reasons, gave me pretty strong headaches every time I was on the no-pill week. I felt very depressed and anxious, doubted myself and sometimes paranoid. Eventually I noticed I am not like this normally and finally decided to change this pill to Norimin. All those effects disappeared, my moods are stable and no depression at all. Only downside is that the sex drive is pretty low, but I guess it doesn't affect me as bad as the other side effects mentioned before. So, I'm pretty conform with it. Apart from the contraceptive purpose, I take the pill to help me with bad acne and polycystic ovaries which I was diagnosed more than 10 years ago, and the pill was the recommended treatment for that. 

Norimin pill-review-id-7a9d0270-e900-49ea-973a-8bf7f8555449

I’ll give a detailed review - started it to help my spots a little, and due to getting in a relationship. I’ve been on it almost 2 months which might not be long enough, but my spots have gotten slightly worse, and had mood swings (such as crying over not being able to chose what takeaway to get for dinner hahahah, compared to me crying once in a blue moon). But the thing that confirmed me needing to change is the fact my vagina is irritated and sore, think it’s thrush, as applying the cream helps… until I decide it feels okay and stop applying it for it to only get sore again :(. 
I haven’t had the thrush problem with other combined pills I’ve tried - I’ve tried rigevidon, millinette and eloine. 

Microgynon 30 pill-review-id-eca95dca-4747-4d33-a028-51b705290cb2

So many eye problems from this pill -  loss of vision and lots of cysts developed due to oil clogging glands in eye. Also experienced severe hair loss.

Cilique pill-review-id-abcc70b6-aa28-4fc4-9ac0-60507a6fa8fa

I probably haven’t been on it long enough to be able to say with full confidence that it’s definitely working for me, however compared to other hormonal contraceptives I’ve used it’s definitely pretty good. I’ve been taking it back to back with no pill break as the main reason for going on it was heavy/painful periods. The periods have of course stopped but there’s been a lot of spotting - tmi but it’s not really blood that I’m spotting and more dark discharge but it’s annoying nonetheless. I haven’t noticed a change to my sex drive but I have had more sex with my partner recently since not having to rely on condoms is a massive weight off both our minds - having said that the spotting does stop me from wanting to have sex sometimes. 

My boobs have gotten bigger, which to be honest for me is a win although they’re super sore. 

I’ve been getting pretty gnarly headaches/migraines but again I’m not 100% these are down to the pill as they seem to be triggered by a hangover and then progress into a migraine. They have increased since taking the pill, though. 

The last thing is my mood is quite erratic at the minute. Again, I can’t say fully that this is due to the pill as my moods beforehand were a bit all over the place as well thanks to PMS. 

Overall I’m happy with it so far and will continue to take it unless any side effects get worse. 

Sunya 20/75 pill-review-id-1c60f075-c774-4296-9f18-c9d11836ae33

I started microgynon at the start of January 2022 it's now June and I'm in the process of changing to a different pill. Microgynon had massively increased my hormonal acne cross my chin and upper arms, and it has caused me to gain nearly 10kg even though I go to the gym for 6hrs a week and eat healthy. In the last 3 months my period has been starting 3-4 days before I'm supposed to take my 7 day break, and my periods have become heavier and longer in the last 3 months. Absolutely loved the pill when I first started as it made my periods regular, light and pain free, this has unfortunately changed the longer I was taking it. Now I'm switching to marvelon to hopefully reduce the acne and stop the weight gain. 

Microgynon 30 pill-review-id-7340495e-1337-4639-8cee-4319527f13c4

I’m currently still taking this pill but looking to change. This is the third pill I’ve tried but hasnt been good. I’ve had severe an anxiety and depression. Haven’t felt like myself on it. Get frequent mood swings which last about hour or so, cry a lot. Overall would not recommend for your own sanity. However I didn’t notice any weight gain or change. My period last 1-3 days and very light

Millinette 20/75 pill-review-id-c835de1b-510c-4c34-a60b-fc65f4556452

In terms of contraception, great. However, I have undesired side effects. 

Levest pill-review-id-3c7049e7-2d7c-4716-991e-2020f3d066bb

I didn't notice a major difference afterwards but my skin did get worse with spots and more oily, realised it was affecting wearing contact lenses and my periods were back heavy, bad cramps and feeling sick. Gained weight coming off it as well.

I was on it for approximately 7 years after being diagnosed with PCOS. Never had any issues with being on it. Periods became regular and lighter and my skin was relatively clear. Had the usual spot on my chin every month but that was about it.

Millinette 20/75 pill-review-id-40addabf-4442-4af9-ba3c-4e732e73ccc4

My spots started to get a little worse once stopping Eloine, but nothing major, just the odd one… but then I started to get loads around my jaw line, and under my chin and neck. It’s not about 6months since stopping it, and my spots have just hit rock bottom, they’ve gotten really bad again. 

When I stopped the pill - the back pain didn’t completely go until about just under 2 months.

I’m currently debating whether to go back on Eloine, as I’m worried the back pain will happen again (I have heard that some people return to pills and will experience completely different effects to before). 

Honestly this pill majorly helped my spots. The spots on my face and back/chest cleared up almost instantly, like literally almost straight away. I literally wouldn’t even break out, I very rarely had the one pimple pop up. 

I stopped this pill due to back pain (was slightly unsure whether it was acc from the pill of not), which went once I stopped the pill. The back pain was odd, it was in the lower part of my spine?!

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