Implanon and Irregular Periods: What Users Say

• Hap...
• November 29, 2010

For Birth Control "I have read reviews below and noticed most people find those with low rating helpful. We should all remember that this is a birth control method and goes against nature. There will definitely be side effects, and there is nothing that works the same for everyone. We all have different experiences and would like to write some more about the good things. I had mine inserted in March this year and cannot be happier. I have used the pill and the IUD before. While on the pill, I got pregnant. I decided to use the IUD afterward. Took it out because I would bleed heavily for 2 weeks every month. With Implanon, I have not had my periods, no weight gain. Got some cramping and low libido, but I can live with it. Oh, and I am not pregnant. Give it a try."

• Anonymous
• October 10, 2010

For Birth Control "I have had Implanon since March 2008, and the main side effects that I have are periods that are long-lasting, from 10 to 21 days, no libido/sex drive, and mood swings. My partner complains because I'm frequently on my period, which can be very frustrating."

• ANI...
• September 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I have had the Implanon in my arm for over 2 years now, and only within the last 2 months have I come to realize that all these things I have been experiencing: lack of concentration, constantly hungry (especially for sweet things), acting like a pit bull on crack with the mood swings, breast tenderness, backache, itchy, irritable scalp, gripping pains, feeling anxious and crying for no reason, headaches, erratic periods (e.g., none for 3 months, then 2 heavy in one month, followed by spotting on and off for 3 weeks), and the worst thing for me: WEIGHT GAIN! I have put on about 2 stone and I was always good at dieting, but not this time, IT WILL NOT SHIFT! It was not until recently when my headaches got worse that I started to dig on Google, and I feel so stupid that I didn't do my research on this horrible thing! Yes, it stops you from getting pregnant, but is it worth it? Definitely NOT!"

• Kat...
• October 22, 2014

For Birth Control "I have had the Implanon for two years now, personally, it is more hassle than it is worth. My periods are heavy and long-lasting, sometimes for over a month. There is often a tiny break between one period ending and the next starting, which is knackering. Every few months, it will disappear altogether, which is a godsend. When it returns, my emotions/mood swings are extreme."

• Kar...
• June 18, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Implanon now for about 2 and a half years and I'm still getting my periods. They started off normal, and now they are just irregular. I've had my period now for the past three weeks, and it's not normal period blood, it's more brown and chunky than anything I've experienced before. I'm not the type to go to the doctors, but it's getting to the point where it's ruining my sex life. I never had depression or weight loss or gained any, but I do get fewer headaches than what I did before. I would recommend the Implanon to people who are forgetful about taking pills, it's just risky because the symptoms are different for everyone."

• You...
• August 25, 2014

For Birth Control "After having my daughter at 17, my gyno basically made me choose this birth control. I didn't want any more slip-ups, and apparently, she felt the same. Since then, I have very random periods, but do not get pregnant, and that's what it's all about, right? I love it."

• Jan...
• October 24, 2018

For Birth Control "I've had the implant for almost 2 years and bled for almost 2 months to begin. Each month following, I would have heavy bleeding once or twice a month, irregular periods, long periods. Once, I was bleeding very heavily for about 4 weeks and had to go to the hospital as I felt like I was slowly dying from blood loss. I used to be on the pill, which at the time I didn't realize how crazy it made me until after I stopped, and now realize the Implanon is the reason I have been depressed, unhappy, anxious, and fatigued. I'm getting this out next week and planning to use Natural Cycles for a while to rid my body of excess hormones. My friend had a nerve wrap around her Implanon, which caused numbness down her whole arm. Other friends have experienced mood changes and generally not feeling themselves. One friend had this in after having a baby, and to my knowledge has had no issues with it, so it really does depend on the person."

• Jan...
• October 24, 2018

For Birth Control "I've had the implant for almost 2 years and bled for almost 2 months to begin. Each month following, I would have heavy bleeding once or twice a month, irregular periods, long periods. Once, I was bleeding very heavily for about 4 weeks and had to go to the hospital as I felt like I was slowly dying from blood loss. I used to be on the pill, which at the time I didn't realize how crazy it made me until after I stopped, and now realize the Implanon is the reason I have been depressed, unhappy, anxious, and fatigued. I'm getting this out next week and planning to use Natural Cycles for a while to rid my body of excess hormones. My friend had a nerve wrap around her Implanon, which caused numbness down her whole arm. Other friends have experienced mood changes and generally not feeling themselves. One friend had this in after having a baby, and to my knowledge has had no issues with it, so it really does depend on the person."

• lii...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 27, 2015

For Birth Control "I just got my 3rd rod in Feb. 2015, and I am not sure why I got another one instead of trying something different. It does work very well, but the side effects are terrible. I got on it because I thought it would make my periods go away, and it didn't, it just made them much longer, and I recently had to start taking iron pills to help. The first 2 years, I gained 30 pounds, and I became very depressed and anxious (which is still going on in year 7). I do not sleep very well, and I am not sure if it is the birth control or not, but I am always tired and never have energy. I have a sex drive, but sometimes I get a really sharp pain in my lower stomach that makes me not want to have sex because the pain it causes is not worth it."

• don...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I've had my birth control in for almost 2 and a half years now and finally made an appointment to get it out next week. I was in denial that the zero sex drive, long-lasting periods, mood swings, depression, and 45-pound weight gain was because of that. Don't get me wrong, it does its job. Bc for me, I had no urge to have sex so there was no way for me to get pregnant. Hoping to see a turnaround in my life after the removal and hopeful to patch my relationships affected by my raging hormones."

• Meg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I had Implanon inserted in June 2015 and currently still have the implant. I have experienced so many body changes that it urged me to look up the side effects. I found all of these posts and can't believe it! It all makes sense now! I have gained almost 10 lbs, have less of a sex drive, feel like a crazy person, my hair stopped growing, and worst of all, I have my period randomly with spotting all the time! It's hard to have sex or want to have sex when you're bloated and spotting 3 weeks out of the month! I am over this! I'm getting this out ASAP! Thank you, ladies!"

• Jas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2014

For Birth Control "Implanon is amazing. I've been struggling for over five years with hormonal birth control pills. They caused me to gain weight, go in and out of depression, have horrible mood swings, acne-everything that could go wrong did. I was so sick of trying different pills (Yaz, Progestin, Microgestin Fe 1/20). I wanted something non-hormonal. I've had Implanon for nearly 4 months now and the only side effect is that I'll have random periods sometimes, but that might be my body trying to adjust. Otherwise, no mood swings, I've lost 16 pounds, no horrible periods, nothing."

• jes...
• February 15, 2016

For Birth Control "WORST THING I EVER DID! I have had the implant in my arm for around 2 and a half years, I didn't want to wait till the 3-year mark to get it removed, so I had it taken out today. I gained 28 lb from having it put in my arm with no lifestyle or diet changes. It made me angry and always sad/depressed. I used to be so happy and calm and never got mad easily, but with the implant in, I snapped at everything and had terrible mood swings. It affected me mentally. My periods were very irregular, I could be on for 1 full month and then off for 2 months, then come on for a week and so on. Such a horrible, life-changing drug. The worst thing about it for me was the weight gain, I used to be slim and fit, and now I'm fat, gone up 3 dress sizes! :( not good!"

• Gue...
• May 27, 2010

For Birth Control "I had my Implanon inserted in October 2009 and had it removed today. At first, I was very happy, felt great, it healed super fast and easy. The skin around it did itch a whole lot. No rash, just incredibly itchy skin! The itching started about 2 weeks after the procedure when the original bruise went away and lasted for another 2 weeks. I was thinking I was allergic to it and almost had it removed, but the itching stopped just as suddenly as it started. I still had my periods, but they were irregular and not very heavy. I did gain 8 lb, not a big deal. Now, the reason I had it removed is I became SUPER emotional, always unhappy for no reason, often tired, had headaches, lost sex drive, and it just kept getting worse."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2015

For Birth Control "Since getting the implant in, I had a few longer periods, and now I haven't gotten it for a couple of months. That has been the only advantage so far for me. I was always skinny, then gained 30 pounds from this. Being in my 20s, I was horrified. I have to get all new clothes because of mine not fitting, and I was so embarrassed to even go out. I've also never had acne before, and now I've been having major breakouts constantly. I also have no sex drive anymore, I have no energy, and I have been very depressed, which has never happened to me before. I am now getting this removed after 5 months of having it. Overall, I would not recommend this option. But of course, this doesn't happen to everyone."

• Cas...
• July 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I was writing this wonderful, very wordy review on this when I discovered that I have a word limit. Dang. In a nutshell: I've never had so many problems with a BC. Significant weight gain, headaches, nausea, fatigue/insomnia, no periods for months and then weeks of bleeding. The worst is the change in my mood. DEPRESSION. I couldn't no longer trust my instincts. Everyone noticed a change in my attitude. It may be a convenience to just pop a rod in your arm, but it is NOT WORTH IT. I am telling you, stay away. I cannot wait to have mine removed."

• jes...
• May 28, 2013

For Birth Control "Implanon is awesome. Being a new breastfeeding mother, there are not many alternatives for birth control. With Mirena, you have to wait for at least 12 weeks after the birth, and it comes with a greater risk for infections and PIV, but with Implanon, you can start right away, and it's safe for breastfeeding. The first few months, I experienced irregular periods, which is a normal side effect, but now I have no period, which is great! I have not experienced any other side effects. I have had it for 8 months now and will definitely continue after the 3 years."

• hai...
• January 19, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on the Implanon for the three allowed years now. My periods are completely random and have zero sex drive. No weight gain besides my own body's growth has come from the pill. Overall, it is a decent and easy form of birth control and very effective. I will be having it removed today but not replaced, plan on switching to a different form."

• Dan...
• November 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I've had the rod 18 months now. In this time, I've gained weight, developed anxiety that bad, I no longer have a social life. I am in pain constantly, i.e., back, tummy, headache. I'm exhausted every day. I don't even feel like a human. Also, sore breasts, irregular periods, and insomnia. Joint pain, the lot. Severe mood swings, almost bipolar type. Seriously affected me, also pain where it was. I personally wouldn't recommend, took over my whole life."

• Jac...
• January 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I had a love/hate relationship with the Implanon. I had it for 2 years but had to have it removed because I couldn't handle the side effects anymore. Totally does the job of preventing you from getting pregnant and loved not having to remember taking it, but OMG! The first year was great, I didn't get my period at all, but the second one was horrible. I would get my period for months and had to wear a tampon every day. It gave me mood swings, and I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster, not to mention the 25 lbs I gained. :( Just had it removed, and I already feel much better."

• Tif...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 3, 2020

For Birth Control "Had mine now for about a year and a bit, and now my periods are regularly irregular. Meaning 2 weeks on and then 3 weeks off, with a random amount of time in the middle without my period (2-4 days usually). For the first week, I am quite heavy, then the second is always a mystery and changes all the time. Gained 11 kg and cannot lose the weight and am having huge self-esteem issues. My breasts are aching for weeks leading up to the weeks of my period. Wanted to get it out, but thought I would push through it. At least I'm not pregnant, I guess, hmmm."

• Mus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I was put on Implanon a month ago, and I was told that there might be some weight gain (like 5 pounds) or a chance of depression and irregular periods for a while. Let me tell you something. They're spot on with weight gain, personality changes, and irregular periods. I usually have a heavy flow without cramps. Now, I can't move without feeling like I have Ebola. I'm bleeding profusely. And worst of all, the blood smells 20 times worse than usual. I've gained 10 pounds, bled constantly, and my emotions are going haywire. If anyone says you won't have a period, they're right. Your vagina literally turns into a scene from Sweeney Todd. Feels like it too."

• Kia...
• June 17, 2017

For Birth Control "Well, girls, I absolutely do not recommend Implanon. Let me tell you a little bit about my journey with it. I got Implanon on August 8, 2016, and today I took it out on June 17, 2017. It's been a nightmare. Of course, it does what it's supposed to do, which is not getting you pregnant, but on the other side, it is the most horrible thing that has happened to me because of the side effects. 1. My period started to be irregular, and after 3 months, my period just disappeared. 2. I am a person who always tries to take care of my skin, and after one month of having Implanon, my skin started to be dry and breakout a lot, even on my back."

• Chl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I highly recommend the implant to anyone. I got mine inserted in early May 2015, now, being October 2015, I haven't had any period since then, which to me is a great side effect because who actually enjoys bleeding from their vagina every month, right? The only downsides for me are that I have absolutely no idea when my next period will be or if I'll ever get one (on the implant), and the other thing was at first I was a bit grossed out at the fact I could feel the implant inside my arm, which you get used to as time passes. Positive side effects-no babies for 3 years unless I decide to have one or get it taken out, which is unlikely."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2019

For Birth Control "I got the Implanon fitted in Sep 2018. Like any new medications, I knew my body would need to adapt. In the first month, I noticed changes in moods, tenderness of breasts, period changes, and confusion. My first period on the Implanon was jelly-like and very unnatural and strange. Everything started to go downhill afterward, both physically and emotionally. I allowed myself 6 months before I got it removed, and I sincerely feel that I should have gotten it removed sooner. I did make two appointments prior to get it removed, and I canceled. Physically, I ended up with a skin outbreak on my face, neck, and tummy. I was grinding my teeth in my sleep and biting my tongue. Emotionally, I was irritated, confused, moody, depressed, and severely anxious."