Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) vs Implant

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Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)

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Implant

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Overview

Rated 4.4

7 reviews

Permanent

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Permanent

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

586 reviews

Every 3 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) ingredients

Plastic or titanium clamps or silicone ring may be used to block the fallopian tubes.

Implant ingredients

Main hormones in Implant

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

57% no impact on mood

57% no change

43% no impact

71% no impact

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

38% somewhat negative

45% irregular periods

50% lost sex drive

41% gained weight

59% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) reviews

7 reviews

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th May 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

Feel much better not having extra hormones circulating through my body and not worrying about contraception.

Read more

Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Mar 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

eryew4yhwesgs


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jul 23

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

This procedure saved my life! I was sterilised earlier this year aged 36, I suffer from Tokophobia (fear of pregnancy) and don’t want children so this surgery was the perfect solution. I opted to have both tubes removed completely to reduce any risk of recanalisation in the future. I feel so much happier in myself and no longer experience panic attacks related to sex/pregnancy scares so I’m actually able to relax and enjoy myself 😅 I had to go private because of my age and where I live but it was definitely worth the money. There is a Childfree friendly doctors list on Reddit, I found the link on a Childfree Facebook group. Definitely recommend sterilisation!


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th May 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

Feel much better not having extra hormones circulating through my body and not worrying about contraception.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Mar 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

eryew4yhwesgs


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jul 23

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

This procedure saved my life! I was sterilised earlier this year aged 36, I suffer from Tokophobia (fear of pregnancy) and don’t want children so this surgery was the perfect solution. I opted to have both tubes removed completely to reduce any risk of recanalisation in the future. I feel so much happier in myself and no longer experience panic attacks related to sex/pregnancy scares so I’m actually able to relax and enjoy myself 😅 I had to go private because of my age and where I live but it was definitely worth the money. There is a Childfree friendly doctors list on Reddit, I found the link on a Childfree Facebook group. Definitely recommend sterilisation!


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Implant reviews

586 reviews

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I’ve had multiple cycles in which I bled for around 3 week straight and multiple where I just missed my period altogether. I’ve gained lots of weight and have gone up 3 cup sizes since having it. I’ve also developed severe acne problems since having it, similar to the issues I had with the Desogestrel pill. It’s honestly been much worse than I expected.


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I enjoyed the convenience of this birth control but the side effects are not worth it. My mood has been like a roller coaster every day and I have had debilitating anxiety after being on this contraception for nearly 2 years. The constant spotting and light cramps are awful and the cystic acne and constant breast pain are too. It is very effective at preventing pregnancy though.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

I've had nexplanon for nearly 3 years and I will most likely get it again and recommend it to others. Whilst everyone's body is different, my body hasn't had an awful reaction with the implant. When I had it inserted I had two extremely light periods in the beginning and since then I have had no periods. I would say the only thing I have struggled with personally is the weight gain, however I have a bad relationship with food and my body so take it with a grain of salt! When I had it inserted I was underweight and in the nearly 3 years I've had it, I have gained enough to be classed on the "higher end of a normal BMI" (whatever that really means because the BMI is a load of BS). My boobs have grown- probably because of the weight gain, and I do get occasional mild cramping. Whilst this is the negative side not my experience, it has also been nice to not worry about pregnancy after having sex and it has made things A LOT easier. Overall 9/10. Please remember everyone's experiences are different. My experience might be the complete opposite of someone else's. If you feel like a form of contraception isn't working or is making your life horrible because of the side effects, please try something else. It's trial and error!


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I’ve had multiple cycles in which I bled for around 3 week straight and multiple where I just missed my period altogether. I’ve gained lots of weight and have gone up 3 cup sizes since having it. I’ve also developed severe acne problems since having it, similar to the issues I had with the Desogestrel pill. It’s honestly been much worse than I expected.


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I enjoyed the convenience of this birth control but the side effects are not worth it. My mood has been like a roller coaster every day and I have had debilitating anxiety after being on this contraception for nearly 2 years. The constant spotting and light cramps are awful and the cystic acne and constant breast pain are too. It is very effective at preventing pregnancy though.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

I've had nexplanon for nearly 3 years and I will most likely get it again and recommend it to others. Whilst everyone's body is different, my body hasn't had an awful reaction with the implant. When I had it inserted I had two extremely light periods in the beginning and since then I have had no periods. I would say the only thing I have struggled with personally is the weight gain, however I have a bad relationship with food and my body so take it with a grain of salt! When I had it inserted I was underweight and in the nearly 3 years I've had it, I have gained enough to be classed on the "higher end of a normal BMI" (whatever that really means because the BMI is a load of BS). My boobs have grown- probably because of the weight gain, and I do get occasional mild cramping. Whilst this is the negative side not my experience, it has also been nice to not worry about pregnancy after having sex and it has made things A LOT easier. Overall 9/10. Please remember everyone's experiences are different. My experience might be the complete opposite of someone else's. If you feel like a form of contraception isn't working or is making your life horrible because of the side effects, please try something else. It's trial and error!


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Sep 24

Nexplanon implant  

Whilst the second and third years on the implant mellowed me out a bit as a mentally unwell girly (struggle to regulate my emotions), the first year was pretty bad now I look back on it-i was quite depressed although unsure if this was due to the implant. I never had any periods, except for some rare light spotting for a couple of days every 6 months or so. No other symptoms really except for some weight gain and boob enlargement. My libido was a bit lower as well imo.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Aug 24

Nexplanon implant  

This was by far the best contraceptive method I've used. Discreet, reliable and gave me no issues. Had 2 of these over several years.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 8+ yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Aug 24

Nexplanon implant  

It was great for the first few years, I had no bleeding and didn’t notice any mood problems. After the first time I got it changed, I had constant problems with bleeding on and off. I ended up taking the mini pill on top to stop bleeding which caused horrible dryness, which was very uncomfortable. I didn’t notice my mood getting worse or my sex drive disappearing over the following 6 years, but a few days after I got it out I could feel this weighty sense of dread leaving my body. This contraception was effective insofar as it prevented pregnancy, but it’s hard to tell how much of that was just me never wanting to have sex.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Jul 24

Nexplanon implant  

I had 3 implants over 9 years. On the surface I thought I had minimal side effects, with the exception on loss of periods (approx. 2 per year). However I decided to take a break having spent a decade on continuous hormonal birth control. I now realise that there where several effects on my mood. Mostly flat lining of my emotions, I never felt things intensely and left me a bit closed off. My libido was very suppressed and took 3/4 months to come back, in line with my periods returning semi- regularly. I also no longer feel constantly bloated or have regular stomach aches. However I didn't get pregnant or experience bad side effects, so I can't say it was a wholly 'negative' experience. I won't however go back to hormonal birth control anytime soon!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Jun 24

Nexplanon implant  

I had the implant fitted as I wanted reliable contraception that I didn't need to think about constantly. I had some slight spotting for a couple of months after getting it fitted, but apart from that, the first three years were all fine. When I came to have it changed, the nurse could not locate the implant, so it couldn't be removed during my appointment. I then had to wait six moths to see a specialist at the 'deep implant clinic' who was able to find it and remove it, few, however this whole experience was pretty worrying during those few months. I was not going to have a new one put into my arm but during this appointment I suddenly changed my mind and decided to have another one put in. This second implant I had for two years, then after my 6 year relationship broke down, I recently had it removed a couple of months ago to see how I felt not being on hormonal contraception. Amazing is the answer.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Jun 24

Nexplanon implant  

For two years I had good and bad experiences with the Implant. I would definitely say the negative side effects definitely fall under mental health (depression and mood swings), sometimes I would get nausea to the point of wanting to vomit everywhere, migraines, lower back pain. My libido is below low levels. I think I lost myself over this 2 years, I don't feel like the same person mentally. However, this is the best contraception in terms of insertion and daily practicality. I wanted to start having contraception but I didn't want the pill (because I am very forgetful), I didn't want the diaphragm (too complicated) but this one was just perfect and painless procedure. Also, my body changed a little bit over the years but it was because I started being careless with my eating habits, so it is easy for your weight to change with the implant. And in terms of hair and skin, for me it didn't change much, I would get a pimple every now and then but it would go away by itself. If it wasn't for the mental health for sure I wouldn't take it out.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th May 24

Nexplanon implant  

Getting it put in: was a little more involved and bigger than I expected. It was fine, little gross but I couldn't feel it and just avoided looking. They numb the arm area, and slowly insert it. It feels like the they're slowly inserting the pointy side of one of those old school card sized mail openers. It was fine. You can do it. Was much more appealing to me than pill or any vaginal coil. Experience 0-3 months: irregular bleeding, spotting, almost constantly for the first three months. Not heavy at all, very light but irregular. No cramps and before I had these a lot! Experience 3-7 months: no period, no spotting, no cramps. It's amazing and I'm so happy with it. My hair has been shedding more but I have a lot of very thick Asian hair so unsure if related. I've had increased appetite, but again this could be due to other factors in life. No other side effects. I'm very pleasantly surprised. I expected a pretty difficult journey with this one, but it's the best contraceptive I've used so far.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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