Implant vs Injection
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Overview
Rated 2.8
605 reviews
Every 3 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.9
290 reviews
Every 2-3 months
Frequency
94% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
Short term
Effect on fertility
Implant ingredients
Main hormones in Implant
progestogen
Injection ingredients
Main hormones in Injection
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Heavy periods
Ovulation pain
Period pain
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Implant reviews
605 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Random bleeding throughout which was frustrating. Partner felt like I seemed happier in general once I came off. Suffered anxiety attacks after coming off the implant (may or may not be related currently unsure)
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
Great for if you are looking for contraception that you can forget about and prevent periods however it caused lasting weight gain and awful mood such as unreasonable anger which was almost misdiagnosed as a personality disorder until I came off the contraception.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
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
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Random bleeding throughout which was frustrating. Partner felt like I seemed happier in general once I came off. Suffered anxiety attacks after coming off the implant (may or may not be related currently unsure)
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
Great for if you are looking for contraception that you can forget about and prevent periods however it caused lasting weight gain and awful mood such as unreasonable anger which was almost misdiagnosed as a personality disorder until I came off the contraception.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
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
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Injection reviews
290 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Things I’ve had history struggling with in the past: depression, anxiety, weight Things depo increased: depression, anxiety, weight
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
started using it on April but so far my body is still the same & haven’t experienced breast enlargement yet
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Things I’ve had history struggling with in the past: depression, anxiety, weight Things depo increased: depression, anxiety, weight
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
started using it on April but so far my body is still the same & haven’t experienced breast enlargement yet
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th May 25
Used for over 10 years, completely stopped my periods which was fantastic. The devices became harder and harder to use, needing a lot of force to inject so I ended up turning myself into a pin cushion & wasting a few, which made reordering a faff. Don’t think I gained weight and if anything my skin improved (but that could just be normal from teenage to late 20s). The only negative I noticed was decreased sex drive - but it didn’t totally go so not a massive issue for me.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th May 25
I was on this injection for 2 years, the whole process put me off . when i started the injection i had a period of 16 days (over two weeks) and it was so heavy, months went on and my periods stopped all together, i didn’t have a period for minus 2 years , i’m now on the combined pill but i did receive higher anxiety and depression towards taking it for ages, the doctor offered me antidepressants but i didn’t want to be taking them as i am a quite smily happy person but i literally lost all my energy and motivation to do anything.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th May 25
With the contraception I experience a lot of abdominal pains frequently
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd May 25
Worst decision I’ve ever made Gained a lot of weight Depressed Anxious Moods all over the place
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Apr 25
I like the injection as no periods at all but gained over 2 stone in weight and no amount of dieting, eating less or exercising helps loose any weight at all I just gain even more.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Apr 25
I didn't notice any changes at first. I got my period for the first month or two, then the bleeding was irregular and lighter and eventually it stopped completely. I gained weight quickly. I would get hungry even after eating. I would get severe vaginal itching a few days after the shot.
Worse skin
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 22nd Mar 25
It is effective and it's convenient but unfortunately the side effects are really bad but it depends on different body types
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments

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