Etonogestrel for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2012

"It is amazing! I have tried the Pill and an IUD, both were horrible. I went to my midwife and asked her what are the best options, she recommended the Nexplanon. I was currently on my monthly cycle, which was fine. They cleaned my arm, numbed the area before insertion with a little bit of medication, then inserted the Nexplanon! VERY quick and easy, also no pain! I had a nasty bruise for 1 1/2 weeks, but that's all. I finished my cycle, had a week of no bleeding, then I had slight spotting for almost a month. Afterwards, no random bleeding, no fatigue, no depression, NO nasty side effects at all!! It has helped a lot with my painful cycles and lightened them up greatly. Overall, I would highly recommend this method of birth control."

• EB2...
• April 16, 2013

"I never write on these things, but there are so many horror stories I felt like I needed to. I had my Nexplanon inserted on February 5, 2013. So far, it has been great! It went in on the 4th day of my period, light to begin with... my period stopped completely the next day. And I haven't had one since! The insertion was extremely easy, but I did have a nasty bruise for about 2-3 weeks. Now it's fine. I did have a little body acne too but I think that was because I totally stopped birth control for a few months, before this my body wasn't used to it. I researched this and was terrified because I thought I was going to gain 80 lbs and bleed for weeks straight but it has been nothing but easy!"

• Lex...
• February 11, 2020

"I had it removed less than a week ago. I never thought twice about my mood while on it (I thought it was just how I was or have always been) until my relationship started getting rocky due to my anxiety, obsessiveness, and easy triggering over the most minor inconveniences. It was hard for me to have a good day even when I tried. I had emotional breakdowns every day, and my period lasted forever, blood clots, and spotting in between every cycle. But at least I knew I wasn’t getting pregnant. Since it was removed, it literally feels as if dark clouds were lifted from above me. It’s crazy to think how many good moments I’ve missed out on or ruined due to my mood swings the past 2 years. No more obsessive thoughts or anxiety or unjustified rage, and no depression. It’s great birth control. I just wish the mood swings and depression that come along with it are not a thing. I’m happy to know that now I’m not an angry, raging female, just a female that was dealing with all of its negative side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 1, 2015

"I have had this birth control since July of 2014, so I've had it for about 7 months now and I recommend it to everyone! I only spotted for a couple of days after getting it, and then my period had stopped altogether. I had no problems since then, and I even lost 5 pounds! 100% effective for preventing pregnancies also. I love it!"

• kat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 22, 2014

"I love the Implanon, 100% effective. I get no periods. The only downside is that in the 2 years I've been using it, I gained at least 45 pounds, which sucks because I tried everything to lose the weight, but nothing seems to work for me. I have my appointment for removal on the 31st of December."

• Eva...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2019

"Beware and do extensive research on Implanon before you get it. If you’ve found this forum, I’m proud of you. Doctors and first initial 'Implanon' Google searches do not yield all side effects. After I had the Implanon inserted, I had intense mood swings of immense sadness and unnecessary anger towards loved ones. After 3 months, the mood swings settled down to constant depression and anxiety. It took me 8 months to connect the dots of side effects to Implanon: the 10 kg weight gain, the mental illness, the COMPLETE AND UTTER LOSS OF LIBIDO, and loss of any natural lubrication ('getting wet') on the odd chance that I did want to have sex with my fiancé. This was huge for me and caused a lot of insecurity because my body simply wouldn’t respond to sexual advances, even things that usually always turn me on. I feel numb most days. Last week I went to my GP to get it removed, she said no. She wouldn’t remove it because I’m a 20-year-old. I’m going back in today to demand it be removed."

• Meg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2014

"I love this birth control. I've been on the patch, the shot, and the pill. All had the same issue, when it was time for my period, they would last 2-3 weeks. Horrible. I decided to get Nexplanon. I've been on it for 10 months now. It is amazing. The doctor said there was a chance I would bleed through a little at the beginning. That wasn't the case for me. I haven't had a period since the day I got the Nexplanon put in. My face is so clear and perfect now. I did gain a little weight, I'm sure the Nexplanon had a little to do with it, or could it be all those cookies I've been eating at night? Haha. I love this birth control. If you're doubting it, don't. I doubted it for 2 years, and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long."

• Lys...
• February 15, 2015

"I've had Nexplanon since 11/5/14, and the whole first week, I had extreme nausea. Then I bled for 3 weeks, was okay for about a month, and now I'm back to nonstop bleeding, extreme nausea, very anxious, crying all the time, acne, and I'm just overall very unhappy and no longer myself. Having it removed next Monday, but I'm not sure I can wait."

• Lil...
• November 26, 2019

"I have had 2 implants, the first one was fine. I would get my period maybe 3 times a year and very light, so once I removed it, I got a new one. It has been a little more than 2 years. I have gained 5 kg, I exercise a lot, started doing 16 hours fasting, and stopped eating meat. Even after all this, I haven’t lost any weight. But then comes the worst part. Since I got the new one, I have my period all the time, sometimes for 3 to 4 weeks straight. For the past 5 months, my boyfriend and friends have been warning me about my mood swings. For the past 4 months, I feel horrible anxiety, something I never had before. Now, after my long period, I have sad thoughts coming into my mind out of nowhere. I cry over nothing, and I just don’t understand where this sadness is coming from. Once I started researching about it, I read so many comments of similar situations and decided I’m getting it removed next week. I do not recommend this, the depression that puts you in and no one tells you about it!"

• Nat...
• January 6, 2021

"I got the Nexplanon inserted on 7/19/19, and I'm scheduled to get it taken out tomorrow. Since this past Saturday, I've had severe anxiety (specifically about death). I can't sleep, I wake up with terrible thoughts, and all day at work I can't think straight. I hold my kids tight, and all I do is cry. I just keep thinking about death, and it's all I've been thinking about."

• Suc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 12, 2014

"It's been a year since the implant, and my periods are constant. For the last two months, I've been bleeding nonstop. It is a very effective birth control method since there is no sex involved anyway because of the constant bleeding! I was hoping it would go away, but no such luck."

• Anonymous
• June 5, 2020

"I am one of the lucky ones that has an amazing Nexplanon experience. I've had it in my arm for 2.5 years now, and I haven't had my period at all that entire time. It's super discreet in my arm. I do feel it sometimes if I cross or lay on my arms in a weird way, but any slight discomfort goes away when I shift positions and stop messing around with it. I haven't gotten pregnant, and I've probably put it to the test a time or two by this point. I haven't had any weight gain or other negative side effects, but I usually don't get side effects from medications. I was on the pill for 2 years, and I never noticed any changes either. Overall, my positive experience is 100% worth getting a second one after this. Even if my next implant is a worse experience, I still think it's worth a shot. One pro that I considered while getting it is that I'd much rather have to get something taken out of my arm than out of my cervix if I dislike it, and I stand by that logic."

• Bea...
• February 22, 2009

"I have had the Implanon implant for about a month now, and not long after I got it, I have read reviews that really scared me because a lot of people had bad side effects such as non-stop bleeding and mood swings, etc. About 2 weeks after I got the implant, I had a period for about 4 days, and then I was spotting for a week after that, and then it stopped, and so far I haven't had anything. I love the fact that I don't have to take a pill every day, and when I was on the pill, I forgot to take it a lot. Luckily, I didn't get pregnant. I love this thing and recommend it to anyone who asks. Hopefully, everything stays the way it is, but so far so good. The insertion was painless, so if you want good birth control, Implanon is the way to go."

• bab...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 29, 2014

"I've had Nexplanon for over a year now, and I love it! I haven't had a single period, and my cramps are gone, along with constant migraines. I would recommend this birth control to anyone. It's so much easier than taking the pill every day."

• Joj...
• March 29, 2021

"Don't do it. This thing should come with a health warning. I have had the implant for 6 months and have bled every day since I got it, not even light bleeding that you could live with, heavy bleeding. My mood has changed, I am normally a very positive, easy-going person. Since having this inserted, I spend most of my days crying, getting angry-I am not an angry person-and feeling suicidal, and that is scary. It has got to the point where my two kids are even asking, 'Are you okay today, mummy? Why are you crying, mummy?' I have spent days just sitting, crying, or extremely anxious. I have contacted medical services to get it removed and have been put on a waiting list. Also, I have put on over 20 lbs, considering that I haven’t been overeating, and no matter what I do, weight does not shift. My advice would be to stay clear, the implant is purely awful and just not worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2023

"Got the implant a little over 2 months ago and have already made an appointment to get it removed. I, like some of the other ladies on here, did my research on sites such as Planned Parenthood, where it says anxiety/depression is a very rare side effect, but I feel that is wrong. I have never experienced this amount of anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, etc. before. I have no motivation to do the things I love anymore and feel like I have no joy in my life, which is very upsetting because I have a very loving boyfriend and a supportive family, and I just got into the college of my dreams. I feel like I have no idea who I am anymore and have never felt so worthless in my life. It’s like nothing I do means anything. I’m pushing away people I love and feel like I have no energy to mentally show up for anything. I know not everyone has the same experience, but I’m glad I found this forum because it helped me realize that this birth control is what broke me."

• Cla...
• July 22, 2009

"I had Implanon inserted in December 08. I have only great things to say about it! About a month after it was inserted, I had slight breakthrough bleeding for about seven days. Other than that, I haven't had any bleeding and have felt fine. No mood swings (that I am aware of). I feel great and it works great!"

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2014

"I've had the Nexplanon for about 3 months, and I LOVE it. I still have my period, but it only lasts about 3 days. I don't have mood swings, weight gain, etc. The only thing that happened to me was that my arm was bruised for about 4 days after I first got it implanted. Sometimes I even forget about it because it just doesn't cause me any problems. I love it so much that I talked my roommate into getting it, and as far as I'm concerned, she doesn't have any problems with it either. I guess it just affects everybody's body differently."

• And...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 22, 2021

"UPDATE: I posted earlier this month. Got Nexplanon removed April 12, 2021, due to a year-long menstrual cycle. Today, April 21, 2021, finally no bleeding! No lower back pain or aches! I’ve been waiting for relief, and since the removal, each day is getting better. My mental health as well is getting better. There is hope, ladies! Light at the end of the tunnel! If you remove it, your body will start adjusting itself. Just have patience with yourself and try to be positive while you go through this process. I’ve been praying, meditating, and listening to positive YouTube videos to help with my mental state while my hormones adjust. You will be okay."

• Kay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 19, 2021

"I would not recommend. Has pretty much ruined my life. My periods have been going on for weeks, up to months long, along with brown, bloody, and liquidy discharge. I’ve had horrible mental health, including suicidal thoughts, worsened depression, anxiety, and obsessive thoughts. I’ve had mood swings and gained around 5 lbs even on a healthy diet and exercise every day. My 'you know what' has had a horrible smell. I’ve tried everything from medication, figuring out my pH level, wearing cotton panties, to taking showers often, and still, there is a very bad odor, especially from my discharge and period blood. The cramps are debilitating, and I couldn’t even walk. The application area has ached ever since I got it, and I’ve had migraines constantly. If your body is sensitive to extreme hormonal changes, you have depression or any mental illness, or sensitive in general, I would not recommend this. It has been the worst experience of my life, getting it removed soon."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 10, 2020

"I’ve had the Nexplanon for about two years now. The insertion process for me was very comfortable and simple (only a little pinch and then some pressure). My period stopped completely, and I got slight bleeding every once in a while (not even enough to wear anything). Although I have been slowly gaining weight over the past two years. When the implant was inserted, I weighed around 150 pounds, I am now up to 180 with little to no lifestyle changes. My appetite is crazy, and once I start eating, I don’t want to stop. Recently, my back acne has had an extreme flare-up which doesn’t make sense to my normal skin. During the summer, I typically clear up due to the sun, but since I’m on my last year of Nexplanon, my acne is out of control. I rarely get period pains, but on occasion, there are cramps. I want to get it removed, but the coronavirus makes me nervous."

• Anonymous
• June 19, 2010

"I highly recommend trying Implanon. I'm really shocked to read all of the bad side effects. If I would have read these reviews before getting Implanon, I would not have chosen this birth control method. I'm so glad I did though! I have had no negative side effects with Implanon. I've had it since Feb '09 and I love it. I still get a period but it's random and the bleeding varies. At first my period got lighter but recently it got heavier and lasted for about 5-7 days. I'm not good at keeping track of my periods though. I must add that this is a very convenient (for us forgetful women) and A VERY EFFECTIVE form of birth control. I have a lot of sex with my boyfriend and we use no other form of protection and I have never gotten pregnant."

• too...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 21, 2015

"I got my birth control in July 2014. For the first 6 months, my periods would last 10 days, which was okay for me. Into my 7th month, my period came on Feb 3rd, and it's been light, but it's still on... and that's been about 20 days. This is irritating, I'm really considering getting it taken out. I'm on my 2nd box of tampons and liners. This isn't good for me."

• Caz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2019

"I just wanted to post on here to combat the predominantly negative comments I have been reading about Nexplanon. Of course, all our bodies are different, but often people only post when they have had a negative experience. I have had it put in, no side effects, and feel really ‘stable.’ Quick and easy to put in. The bruising did last two weeks and looked quite bad, but it didn’t hurt, just looked rather purple! There is a little bit of itching, but for those of you who have had scars heal before, you will know this is just normal healing, and as long as you don’t panic or read too much into it, you will be fine! No periods, no hassle, and absolutely no weight gain (I have even lost weight, I do watch what I eat, and ultimately you will only gain weight if you eat too many calories!). I hope this reassured some people. I’m sure it’s not for everyone, but please know it is used by many people successfully too!"

• Kdu...
• October 27, 2009

"It's been almost a year since I got it, and I haven't gone a full week without bleeding. I have gained 15 lbs in 7 months, very depressed, moody, bad cramps, headaches, muscle aches, weakness, digestive problems. The list goes on. I thought it was all in my head, so I'm glad I found these reviews because I am now going to get it removed!"