Nexplanon and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Mag...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 13, 2014

For Birth Control "So I've been on Nexplanon for 2 years this June (2014). Pros: it works, I don't have to worry about taking a pill every day, I don't feel it in my arm, I don't have a period but every 8 to 6 months, and it's super light. Only gained 5 pounds in 2 yrs. Cons: I had to deal with a little bit of acne, but after seeing a dermatologist, I have great skin. It made me moody, I would be moody around the same time every month, so it was like I had PMS but never a period to follow. I am tired a lot. I got headaches and nausea for the first 6 months. I developed irritable bowel syndrome, however, I fixed that issue by taking fiber regularly and probiotics, and I'm fine now. All in all, I've had a good experience, nothing major I've had to deal with."

• Mol...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 3, 2020

For Birth Control "Honestly, I feel like a lot of these reviews are unfair, but to be fair, it’s all about personal experience. During the time on this, I have had very limited periods - amazing due to the severe PMDD symptoms I would experience on any pill. Yes, during the last year of your implant, you will most likely experience hormonal fluctuations, weight gain, acne, and irregular periods due to the level of hormones tapering off and the nature of the drug. But the two years of pure hormonally regulated bliss is totally worth it. Also, once I started experiencing this, my gyno offered to replace it early, which has completely remedied any issue I have had with the medication. I have experienced stability in mood, weight, and hormonal acne, and I have not purchased feminine products in six years. Give it a shot and your body time to adjust, you won’t regret it."

• Mol...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 3, 2020

For Birth Control "Honestly, I feel like a lot of these reviews are unfair, but to be fair, it’s all about personal experience. During the time on this, I have had very limited periods - amazing due to the severe PMDD symptoms I would experience on any pill. Yes, during the last year of your implant, you will most likely experience hormonal fluctuations, weight gain, acne, and irregular periods due to the level of hormones tapering off and the nature of the drug. But the two years of pure hormonally regulated bliss is totally worth it. Also, once I started experiencing this, my gyno offered to replace it early, which has completely remedied any issue I have had with the medication. I have experienced stability in mood, weight, and hormonal acne, and I have not purchased feminine products in six years. Give it a shot and your body time to adjust, you won’t regret it."

• Lun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 12, 2015

For Birth Control "I got my Nexplanon inserted in June 2014. I got my period the month after but haven't gotten it ever since. I haven't gotten pregnant either. I'm very satisfied except for the fact that my face has been breaking out so much and gained so much weight."

• Dan...
• November 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve had the Nexplanon for 4 years now. Here are the pros: 1. Can’t get pregnant 2. No weight gain 3. Don’t have to worry about taking a pill every day. Cons: 1. I get depressed out of NOWHERE, and I’ve never felt like this before I was on Nexplanon. I get major mood swings. I feel like I’m going crazy sometimes. 3. Long periods- I would have my period for 2-3 weeks at a time. Sometimes I would spot for 30 days. My normal cycle without Nexplanon lasts 3-5 days. 4. Bruised arm- when I got my new rod put in, my arm still looks bruised. 5. Acne- I eat clean, exercise, and drink lots of water, and still, my face breaks out. I get really big, painful pimples too. 6. Distorted thinking- I get so many negative thoughts out of nowhere, and I get into this really dark place. So, I am getting my implant taken out at the end of this month, thank goodness! I appreciate that it does prevent pregnancy, but it’s not worth costing me my mental health and relationships. I do not recommend this product."

• JSa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 18, 2020

For Birth Control "Daily spotting started about 5 months after the procedure. Some mood swings, gained some weight (but working from home due to COVID-19), casual bad headache, and acne around my chin (never had acne since 2003)."

• Anonymous
• March 14, 2015

For Birth Control "It's been almost a year I've been on it. My boyfriend and I had sex a week or so later and it was fine. My first few months, I was on a constant period. Not really heavy, but enough to aggravate anyone. I was extremely sensitive, and now I'm having terrible, terrible acne. (sigh)"

• Mil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I've had this in for 2 years now, and I love it. I guess everyone responds differently, but I haven't experienced any acne breakouts, moodiness, prolonged periods, etc. In fact, I haven't had a period in 2 years. Lots of sex, no babies. The one thing I will say, though, is that it made me gain 15 pounds within the first 3 months, but other than that, no further weight gain."

• Jaz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 15, 2016

For Birth Control "I wanted to share my positive experience. I first had mine inserted in Aug 2013 at my university's nurse's office. The numbing shot really stung, but I didn't feel the incision or insertion at all. I had bruising on my arm for a few days. For a few weeks after, my arm would ache. I have a small, barely-there scar from the incision (looks like a beauty mark/mole). I consistently had periods every other month for 3-5 days. I've gained no weight, had no acne breakouts, and have not gotten pregnant. I was using b/c pills for over a year before switching to this method. I think it's a more hassle-free method; I don't have to worry about human error. I will be getting another one inserted in Aug since my 3 years is about to be up."

• ash...
• September 21, 2014

For Birth Control "I got the Nexplanon implant at the beginning of August, and in a couple of weeks, I will have had it for 2 months. I actually love this form of birth control because I can't get into the routine of a pill or Depo shot. There have been a few ups and downs, though. For about the first few weeks, I was spotting, and now I have nonexistent periods. My moods were wacky at first. I do have a little more acne than before, but nothing that doesn't disappear within a few days. I'm a lot more tired now. I've experienced loss of appetite. I weighed 127 lbs when I got it, and now I weigh 113 lbs. Other than the occasional crying, I'm completely okay with this implant. My sex drive is strong, and I'm not pregnant."

• Scr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2023

For Birth Control "I gained 23 pounds in less than 3 or 4 months. I developed a complex ovarian cyst that burst and sent me to the ER. I am experiencing cystic acne galore, horrible mood swings, and loss of energy. Do not recommend."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 30, 2023

For Birth Control "Sure, I didn’t get pregnant, but experienced absolutely horrendous side effects. I was on it for a year and a half. My face looked like a pepperoni pizza, and I had six-week-long heavy periods. I wish I was making this up. I had horrible cystic acne, so bad to the point one time the whole left side of my face swelled up. Beware!"

• Mad...
• September 18, 2017

For Birth Control "Rating this a 9 because I spotted for a month after insertion. I have my period every other month with the same flow as before. No weight gain, acne, or mood swings. Just had my first bar removed and another put in. Insertion and removal are easy. The area is numbed with local anesthesia. Every woman is different, and it may take some trial and error to find a birth control that works for you! I chose this BC because I was sick of having to worry about the pill. Plus, Nexplanon is practically 100% effective! Don't be scared of all the negative reviews. Most people only write reviews when they are displeased!"

• 608...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m 19, and I got the Nexplanon implant on 3/7/19. I have been bleeding NONSTOP since then. Whether it’s huge blood clots, brown discharge, or light pink watery discharge, it has been nonstop. I’m always tired, even when I get a good amount of sleep. My acne is worse than it’s ever been. I could deal with the fatigue and acne if I could actually have pleasurable sex where I didn’t have to worry about disappointing my partner or getting blood on the sheets (I’m in a serious relationship). So many pairs of underwear have been ruined, and so much money spent on tampons since I have had to use one EVERY DAY. I tried giving it a year to get my body used to it, but we don’t work well together. Never got pregnant, though! I recommend trying it out and seeing if it works for you, but it definitely does not work for me! Only giving it a 1 because I didn’t get pregnant!"

• Cha...
• June 16, 2015

For Birth Control "This birth control has had me bleeding since December 2014. It is now June 2015. I hate this so much. My doctor didn't even tell me this was going to happen. I went back, and she said if it doesn't stop in 6 months, then I need to get it out. It has been 6 months of nonstop bleeding, and now I have to get it removed. It would have been nice to have been aware of this before getting it put in. Some people bleed for a couple of weeks or maybe a month, and others for as long as it's in them. I do not like this birth control at all. It has made me break out, gain weight, eat so much more, and I've gone through about 7 jumbo boxes of tampons."

• TCI...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2016

For Birth Control "Nexplanon = the worst mistake of my life. I had it inserted in July 2014, removed in April 2015, and I'm still dealing with the side effects today - I'm now being treated for painful cysts and debilitating cramps, and I'm convinced this drug caused them. Side effects included: prolonged/heavy periods (lasting 3-4 weeks), anemia (due to periods), recurrent yeast infections (due to periods), painful vaginal fissures (due to yeast infections), lack of sex drive, constant bloating, rapid weight gain, increased appetite, acne, irritability, extreme mood swings, anxiety, and depression (honestly, who wouldn't be depressed). If you are at all sensitive to hormonal birth control, I do not recommend this drug."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2020

For Birth Control "Really like Nexplanon! Especially because I am someone who can never remember to take pills! This was the first form of birth control I ever tried. A great option because an IUD is kind of scary for a teenager! The first month, I experienced some water retention and acne, but it went away super fast. Overall, recommend."

• cor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2021

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon inserted a little over 3 months ago, and I just scheduled an appointment to have it removed. They say you should give it a full 3 months for it to fully adjust to your body and to see how you will react. My side effects started out slow but progressively got worse and more noticeable. My whole life, I've had perfectly clear skin, and now I have cystic acne all over my chin that will not go away. I've gained 10 lbs since having it inserted, with no change to my diet or activity levels. I constantly feel depressed and have very low energy, and for the past 2 months, sex has been extremely painful. The cons greatly outweigh the pros, in my opinion, when it comes to Nexplanon, and that is why I would strongly recommend not getting it!"

• Kat...
• August 20, 2017

For Birth Control "After reading reviews for this, I was afraid to try Nexplanon. But, as another helpful reviewer stated, try looking up your current birth control, and you will also find some horror stories. I switched from the pill (Reclipsen), and I have had nothing but a great experience!! The insertion was absolutely painless, but my arm was sore (soreness similar to vaccination pain in arm) after for about 3 days with some bruising. Once inserted, I never again got my period. I have lost weight but kept it in the good spots ;) I have no problems with headaches, moodiness, dryness, increased acne, etc. Most importantly, it is doing its job as BC!!"

• Anonymous
• March 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I had my Nexplanon put in February of 2013. I had normal periods from Feb-April and then nothing until July. Then it lasted about 10 days, which is long for me. I didn't have a period or any spotting at all until now in March 2014. It's been about a week now, so I'm curious to see how long it will last. I've gained about 5-8 pounds, but it could be other environmental factors. My acne has flared up during this period, but I've never had great skin, and it's not worse than normal. I like Nexplanon quite a bit, the rod never bothers me, and it's very convenient to not have to take a pill."

• aba...
• March 1, 2014

For Birth Control "I love Nexplanon. I got it in November of 2013. They made sure to numb my arm, so insertion was painless. My arm was sore for about a day, but no worse than a harsh workout. I did have mood swings in the first few weeks, but nothing out of control. Then I had my period for about 4 weeks, which I'm told is normal. Since then, I've only had a few days of spotting and nothing else. I'm on a nutritionist-guided weight loss plan and have managed to lose 40 lbs. So far, while on Nexplanon, so no problems with weight gain. I get the occasional acne here and there, but again, nothing too bad. Overall, I rate Nexplanon high, and it's so great to no longer have the responsibility of taking a pill every day."

• Lex...
• May 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I was nervous about getting the Nexplanon due to the reviews on this site. I was worried about mental illness, weight gain, and acne. About a year ago, I spoke with my doctor and decided to give it a try. The process was painless, a small needle prick, but I did have some extreme bruising during the healing process. At first, I gained a little weight and had some acne, but I got into working out and washing my face more, and both subsided. I never once had mood swings or depression symptoms. Everyone reacts differently to each medication and method. Take into account everyone’s experiences, but make sure to speak with your doctor. I am very grateful I had the conversation with her and got the implant, one of the best decisions I have made."

• Tm0...
• June 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I had it implanted in October of 2013. I didn't have a period at all for the first year, and then the week of the one-year mark, I got one. Totally normal, about 5 days, just like my periods before getting pregnant. From then (Oct 2014 to now, June of 2015), I've had a period about every 3-4 months. They are totally normal or very light. That part has been GREAT! The negative side effects I've seen have been some breakouts on my face, mild mood swings, and irritability. But it hasn't ever gotten bad enough to make me want to get it removed. I have sex regularly, and it has done its job. No babies. And I also started losing weight after being on it. I would say this is a great choice if you don't want to worry about taking a pill every day!"

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 5, 2019

For Birth Control "I wish I would have never gotten this birth control implant. I got it in April 2018, so almost a year ago. My first two months, I felt like I was pregnant: bloated, fatigued, moody, horrible acne, which I didn't have before the implant. I had normal periods, and then month three, my period went away. I loved the implant 4-6 months into it. Then I started noticing I am extremely prone to vaginal infections now. I've had vaginitis 4 times. I have extreme anxiety and depression. I cannot get myself out of bed most days and have no interest in things I enjoyed before I got the implant. I used to work out 5 days a week, and I can't make myself go anymore. I cry a lot for no reason and worry about things other people wouldn't. I had to seek help from a therapist. I have an appointment to get the implant removed. I will not recommend this birth control to anyone! Please read reviews before a year of your life has been altered like mine. It's not worth it."

• Gsa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I got this birth control twice, and let me tell you... SWITCH YOUR BIRTH CONTROL AFTER THE FIRST TIME. First time was in 2012-2015; first time experience was great, no period, no cramps, weight gain, or weird pains, I couldn't even feel it. I developed horrible acne, but I got it under control, and I got crazy off-the-wall mood swings that I didn't realize I developed. 100% effective with me, times where I should have gotten pregnant, it never happened, not even a scare. Second time has been absolutely horrible. Mood swings went crazy, I got depression and anger issues, irregular periods that would come and go whenever it pleased, shortest one lasted about a week and a half. Needless to say, I got it removed, not even a year into it."