Implanon and Irregular Periods: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2012

For Birth Control "The whole procedure of getting this birth control was simple. It didn't hurt at all and left a tiny bruise that went away quickly. It was great for about a month, then I started getting irregular periods in the first few months. Then went on a 5-month-long period. Always spotting. Off-and-on heaviness. Bad mood swings. At the 4th month, I started getting every symptom of being pregnant: nausea all the time, breast tenderness, moodiness, bloated, sharp cramps, etc. I took 3 pregnancy tests, all negative. Finally got it removed. All symptoms went away not even 2 days after it was out. I didn't gain weight on it, I didn't get pregnant on it. But the other side effects were just too much for me to handle."

• ren...
• May 11, 2014

For Birth Control "I got it in August 2011, and I never had any serious issues other than irregular periods, but now, after my 3 years is coming to an end, I am in so much discomfort. I have literally been cramping for a week straight, I have no appetite, and I'm also nauseous. The signs I have, you would think I was pregnant. I've read from many sites that it's common for women to relate their experience to feeling like they are pregnant. Well, I find this to be so bad that I will not get it again, which is sad because I loved it for the last 3 years. Needless to say, despite the negatives, it does the job, and I never had a scare in 3 years, it is seriously worry-free."

• Aly...
• April 4, 2015

For Birth Control "I have had this birth control for over a year. Within the first 6 months, I lost 11 pounds, my period was not regular, and I had it for two months straight, lots of spotting also. I used to never get acne on my back and barely on my face, but this caused me to get acne horribly. Then my period randomly stopped, I haven't had it for 9 months. I slowly started gaining my weight back and extra weight, I've gained 15 pounds back, but I'm eating healthier and exercising more than I did when I lost my weight. I cannot get my weight to go back to normal. I used to have migraines, but now I get one at least every other day, also, I'm very emotional. I'm getting the Implanon removed, this birth control wasn't for me!"

• Tee...
• June 12, 2015

For Birth Control "Terrible!! I just got mine removed today & switched to an IUD. I had it for 3 years, and my experience was horrible! I gained about 60 lbs, very emotional and always crying, my hair fell out and is extremely thin now, and I would come on my period 3 times a month. The only thing I will say is that my boyfriend and I were very careless with our sex, and I never got pregnant, so it for sure works well. But no, I don't recommend!"

• Mrs...
• June 25, 2015

For Birth Control "I wouldn't recommend. I didn't get pregnant, however, it did throw my hormones off, and I gained weight (25 lbs) from having this product inside me for years. It frequently threw off my menstrual cycle, causing my hormones to do the same, and this usually extended my period. I had to take birth control pills along with Implanon due to the longer periods. I wish I would have just stuck with regular birth control pills, but I was scared I wouldn't remember to take it due to my busy schedule, however, now I set a reminder on my cell phone that goes off every day. I recommend you try this before putting the Implanon in your body, also, it was hell getting it out being that it moved around & more."

• ana...
• September 2, 2015

For Birth Control "I had the Implanon inserted 17 months ago, and everything was going great up until the 16th month. I started feeling crazy moody and fighting a lot more with my boyfriend about things that never used to bother me. I am extremely moody and have irregular periods. I think I am going to remove it because I have also noticed that it has made me super anxious. I have a constant tightness in my chest, and I was never like this. I have also been super jealous and moody like never before. I'm really considering taking it out soon."

• Mis...
• October 12, 2015

For Birth Control "Had Implanon since Jan 2015, inserted 5 days after giving birth at the recommendation of the hospital. Within 4 months, I started losing my hair, I had long irregular periods that would last 4-8 weeks at a time, and no amount of pills prescribed by my gynae would make it stop. My most recent period lasted almost two months and was thoroughly unpleasant, dark colored blood. My gynae also reported thinning of my uterus. I have gained about 10 kg and counting, my breasts are enormous, and have experienced some issues with libido. I was on Yasmin before for seven years and had none of the above side effects. Having it removed ASAP and will go back to Yasmin."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2015

For Birth Control "Implanon does exactly what it is supposed to do (prevent you from becoming pregnant). But I have found that I am experiencing many symptoms in 6 months of having it: depression, weight gain (15 lbs), no period, PMS all the time, headaches, and lowered sex drive."

• Bly...
• December 2, 2015

For Birth Control "It was great for the first year. Besides sometimes irregular periods, it really helped my period being so heavy. The bad, right around a year, I gained around 15 pounds. I started looking almost as if I was pregnant by my stomach. I would have a period for a couple of months, then not one for two or three months. My cramps became terrible, and my blood sugars were highly elevated, even taking very high doses of insulin. Also, I have high cholesterol now at age 22, not to mention the terrible mood swings and depression, along with the almost-like pregnancy cravings and ovarian cysts, which are very painful. I want it out now!!!"

• Fat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2016

For Birth Control "It's August 2016. I've had this bastard of a thing in since March 2015, and I'm finally getting it out in two days. The worst part is the weight gain and period. I am the lucky 50% whose period still exists, heavier and longer, and not only that...I have gained 25 kg in the last five months. Six months ago, I was diagnosed with Graves' disease, which explains why I had lost 30 kg from Dec 2014 to Feb 2016 when I noticed symptoms. In saying that, if I didn't have the bar, I would have lost more, and five months on, my GP and specialist both agree that I'm experiencing the side effect of weight gain, as my thyroid levels are still high, so I shouldn't be gaining. Goodbye nothing for good, Implanon!"

• Zee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I had it implanted Jan 2016. Initially, I lost my appetite completely. I started losing weight with an irregular menstrual cycle. After a few months, I started eating a lot, not easily satisfied, just wanting more food. Though no mood swings, no depression, sexual drive not too bad. But I got it removed 3 weeks ago because of overweight. I gained 9 kg in 20 months. Grrrrrh, that's too much health-wise."

• NMT...
• May 28, 2010

For Birth Control "I got Implanon inserted in January of 2009 after I had my son. I weighed roughly 200 lbs then. I breastfed for 7 full months and lost about 20 lbs in doing so, and I had no periods at all during that time. I am closing in on the halfway point of having this in, and I do get quite a bit of dark spotting and irregular periods now, with cramping like I used to get when I was on no birth control. I have PMDD, so my psych doctor always has me on some antidepressant. I am on Wellbutrin now and have been since October of 2009. I am now down to 148 lbs. I haven't been this thin since I was in my early 20s (I'm 33). I do walk and watch what I eat, but nothing extreme, and nothing unusual. I'm now getting sore breasts and hoping that the next 18 months go okay."

• Jer...
• July 4, 2010

For Birth Control "I absolutely love the fact that I do not have to worry about taking a birth control pill. I have had Implanon since February of 2009, and so far, the only problem I have is unpredictable periods. At first, I did not have one, but as time went on, I began to have one more often. My periods became normal (every 28 days), and then they began to get closer together... every other week. Now it seems as if it has been on for months and will not go off. Considering the fact that I am a newlywed, I am considering having it removed."

• Sun...
• January 30, 2011

For Birth Control "I had Implanon for 3 years now. It's time to take it out, and I'm definitely getting it again. When I first got it in '07, I bled for like 3 months straight. But after that, normal periods. Irregular, but normal. I wish I could have been one of the lucky ones who stopped having their period. But no pregnancy scares in 3 years! It's brought my husband and me much closer."

• Mom...
• April 28, 2011

For Birth Control "Let's be honest, there is not one birth control that will work for EVERY woman. You have to just try and see what works best for you and your body. I got my Implanon in January of 2010, a few months after having my son. Insertion was SUPER easy, the anxiety was the worst part. I do have spot bleeding every few weeks, but no need for tampons anymore, just the miniature liners which I keep in my purse. No weight gain, I actually work out on a regular basis and have continued to see my weight go down. I did have irregular periods the first year I had it and that was annoying, but every birth control has its downsides so it's up to you to pick which side effect you can live with. I say if the other BCs haven't worked for you, give it a shot!"

• Anonymous
• March 24, 2012

For Birth Control "I have had the Implanon for almost 2 years now, and I wish I would have never had to switch from the patch. When I was on the patch, I had no problems, no weight gain, very regular periods, no acne. I had to switch to Implanon because I can't use a birth control with estrogen. Since starting Implanon, my periods are very irregular. In fact, I bled for the first year and a half with maybe 2 weeks of a break total. The only good thing I can say about it is I haven't gotten pregnant. My skin also changed, I have never had a problem with acne, and now my forehead is oily and constantly breaks out, as does my back. I have also gained a total of 10 pounds, which I can't say is totally caused by Implanon. I plan on taking my Implanon out soon and finding another method."

• lac...
• April 17, 2012

For Birth Control "Pros: You can forget about it for 3 years. It works. Even though it made me hungry, I didn't put on weight. It didn't make my skin break out. Cons: Irregular periods, periods sometimes lasted for 2-3 weeks (spotting in the last one), headaches, mood swings."

• Asc...
• April 23, 2012

For Birth Control "A friend of mine suggested Implanon since she had such a great experience. I got mine in July of 2011. I started it while on my period, and it lasted for about two weeks with mild bleeding. After that, I didn't have a period until about December/January. At that point, I was spotting irregularly. Each month since, I've been getting heavier and more painful periods. Sometimes they even come 3 weeks after the last. I've also noticed increased facial/body hair, greasy skin and hair, weight gain, and yeast infections around the time of my period. I've decided that the side effects are too much to handle, and I'm planning on getting the Implanon removed."

• Ano...
• June 15, 2010

For Birth Control "I got my Implanon inserted in the beginning of May 2010. Two weeks later I got my period. (I was hoping I was going to be one of the lucky ones and not get it, but I was warned, and I'm not a lucky person anyway.) But my period usually lasts 6 or 7 days. This period lasted for 11 days. And it was weird because it wasn't like a regular period where throughout your period you go from heavy to light then you are done. This period was like the same consistency the whole time through (kind of light), so I never knew when it was going to stop. But finally it did. Then on June 14, I got my period again (Ugh! I really hate periods, they ruin all my plans. But yeah, it's the same consistency as the last one. So... I'll see when it stops."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2011

For Birth Control "I got the Implanon implanted in December 2009, and at first, I hated it. Now, after a year, I'm starting to like it. For the first 6 or 7 months, my periods were irregular and almost constant. I also gained 30 pounds. My skin has always had problems with eczema, but once I went on this birth control, it went crazy with a rash covering my whole body. Now that I've had it for more than 9 months, I have my complete sex drive back, bleeding has become more regular but still kind of crazy, my skin has cleared up, and I'm feeling less depressed. So, I agree with most of the doctors when they say stick it out because it does get better, and with all the side effects it has given me, I still think it is better than having to take a pill every day."

• Kaa...
• March 7, 2011

For Birth Control "The doctor who inserted my Implanon had told me that she usually recommends the shot before jumping into the implant. She told me she had many patients who haven't used any type of contraceptive prior to getting the Implanon inserted, resulting in most of her patients coming back for removal within a month. Try out the shot for a couple of months to see if you like it. The shot has the same symptoms as the implant. I used to be on the Depo-Provera (the shot), and my side effects were crazy mood swings, no period. Don't jump into it if you're not sure. I recommend Implanon if you don't want children for at least 3 years and if you tried different methods of birth control. It's up to you if the side effects are worth it."

• Anonymous
• March 30, 2011

For Birth Control "I was very excited to get this birth control because I have epilepsy, and it was one of the birth controls I could use with my medicine. I got it in August 2010, and after that, I have had longer periods, and I get them twice a month. I am bleeding very heavily. I was hoping that this birth control would help my period, not make it worse. I regret getting it and wish I had chosen something else. The only benefit to this birth control is I don't have to worry about taking it every day."

• Anonymous
• May 16, 2011

For Birth Control "I've read a lot of comments about the Implanon and have noticed a few negative reviews. This is unfortunate as I am now on my second Implanon and have never been happier. I'm not saying the Implanon is for everyone, but how will you know until you try it for yourself? Don't be scared by the negative reviews. If the Implanon isn't for you, it's easy to have it removed and symptoms are taken with it. When I first got the Implanon I had irregular periods for a couple of months, but eventually, they formed a pattern and I got them every 6 weeks. Since I have had my second Implanon I haven't had a period at all. The chances of falling pregnant on the Implanon are very slim, but I rely on the occasional pregnancy test just to make sure."

• Ano...
• June 12, 2011

For Birth Control "I have had mine for about 8 months now, and I find it a good method of birth control. I had slight bruising, but the procedure was basically painless. I was on Depo, and I gained a lot of weight. The only bad part about Implanon is an irregular period, but, well, I'm used to that. The worst part about the procedure was the numbing shots."

• Jes...
• June 23, 2011

For Birth Control "I have had the Implanon for almost a year, and I love it. I do have random periods and have gone a few months with no period, and then have had four periods in the last two months. Every once in a while, I have spotting, so the bleeding is pretty random. It was important to me to not be on a birth control that makes your bones brittle, so I am extremely happy with the Implanon. I have had no side effects besides the random periods. My sex drive is the exact same, I haven't fluctuated in weight, no mood swings, no change in acne. I am extremely pleased with it and would recommend it to anyone."