Nexplanon and Bleeding: What Users Say

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2023

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon 3 months postpartum because I had heard horror stories of IUDs, and I'm terrible at taking the pill every day. My cousin had just got hers and said she liked it, so I went with it. Worst. Idea. Ever. The injection site was painful and bruised for 2 weeks. I could barely move my arm, and the implant gets caught on the underwire in my bra with certain movements. I've had constant bleeding for weeks on end, and I used to hardly have periods before. 3 days tops. The worst of it, though, is the anger, rage, aggression, depression, and anxiety I feel now. I thought I was going crazy. I snap at the smallest things. I can rationalize in my head that I'm being ridiculous but physically can't fight the feelings, chest pains, and aggression over things. It's getting removed tomorrow. It's not worth it. I can't live like this anymore."

• Moo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 22, 2023

For Birth Control "I am not sure how I spent a year with this implant in my arm and did not connect it to the very high anxiety, very low mood, and high heart rate I was experiencing. It was the near-constant bleeding that switched on 8 months in that nearly drove me over the edge with constant dehydration, lethargy, dizziness, and irritability. 5 days after having it out and replaced by the Depo injection, I feel worlds better. Negative mental health and anxiety are not a rare side effect, and the packaging needs to be changed to reflect this. Also, 1 in 5 patients in my registered practice are now reported to have near-constant bleeding with only 1 week off, according to my GP. If more knew that, I bet they wouldn’t consider this option, as it destroys your everyday life and well-being. If this is your experience, get it out and try another method."

• Kay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 21, 2023

For Birth Control "Do NOT get it!!! I got the Nexplanon inserted a year ago, and I'm getting it removed next week. It has been the worst experience, both physically and especially mentally. I gained 10 pounds and am constantly bloated, and I am someone who is a very healthy eater and regularly exercises. My skin also plummeted, and I now have painful acne. I am also bleeding CONSTANTLY!! I'll go for 3 weeks bleeding and 1 week not bleeding. Finally, my mental health has completely spiraled!! I have constant mood swings and waves of anger that have been completely ruining what are supposed to be special moments. I have zero control over my emotions and reactions, as if my brain and body are separate! I'll be telling myself I'm angry and crying over nothing, but I physically cannot get out of the terrible mood I am now somehow in. I am not myself anymore, and you are not alone if you feel this way with Nexplanon. I cannot wait to get this mood-controlling parasite of an implant out!!"

• Jay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 9, 2023

For Birth Control "Don't do it. This thing drove me insane with the mood swings. Plus, the irregular bleeding is a no. I once had a period for an entire month. Never again."

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

For Birth Control "That made me bleed for four months nonstop. It gave me constant acne, and I took ibuprofen for a week, it didn't stop it. I took the mini pill for a while, then stopped taking it to see what happened. My period got heavier than normal. I went on it because my period was already heavy. I'll stick to the pill."

• Swi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 23, 2023

For Birth Control "After being on Nexplanon for two years, I began experiencing severe anxiety, paranoia, and obsessive thoughts about a year ago. It has been an incredibly difficult experience, and I couldn't understand what was happening to me. I had intense nightmares, a fast heart rate, and uncontrollable panic attacks. Prior to this, I had never experienced any mental health issues, which made it all the more terrifying. Additionally, I experienced constant bleeding and irregular periods, sometimes bleeding for months on end or having a period twice a month. The pain was excruciating and caused me to cry and vomit. Furthermore, I developed multiple cysts. After randomly researching the effects of Nexplanon, I stumbled upon numerous reviews that described precisely what I had gone through. It was a relief to learn that I wasn't alone, and I immediately scheduled an appointment to have the implant removed. I advise against getting this implant, as it's not worth the damage it can cause."

• des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2022

For Birth Control "I can't stress enough how hard the last four months have been since the implant insertion. Mood swings, sadness, fear, no sex drive, sex is literally an irritable experience, no sleep, constantly tired, can't make me leave the house, thrush, constant bleeding, over a stone weight gain. I am having it removed tomorrow, I wish I could have ripped it out myself earlier. My life is so miserable that the lively, happy, active person feels like I have been imagining her. I wish someone had told me this earlier. I feel doctors and nurses are aware of these problems and yet still using and offering it. Don't do it, not sure how I will go back to my old weight and life, but God help."

• gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2022

For Birth Control "Nexplanon sucks. DO NOT GET IT!! I’ve been bleeding 70% of the past 5 months I’ve been on it, not normal blood either. Worst decision I’ve ever made. I’m not doing anything wrong to make it act weird, I’ve been actually very healthy, but this thing, I want to rip it out of my arm."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2022

For Birth Control "I got this implant a few weeks ago, and after 3 days, I experienced a serious mood swing, which then became an underlying depressed mood. For the next few weeks, my anxiety got so bad I could barely eat. My mood swings became absolutely crazy, and I became suicidal. I have had problems with anxiety in the past, but this made it a million times worse. I cry about everything, I am scared to be alone with my thoughts, I can barely recognize myself. I have been so rude to everyone around me and pushed everyone away. It has interfered with my relationships, mainly with my partner. I quickly decided that I did not want to keep it in any longer, and I got it out. I only had it in for around 3 weeks, and I felt its impact on my mental health. I hope that removing it will improve my mental health and I'll be myself soon. I forgot to say that I was constantly bleeding too, why would I want to be permanently bleeding while on birth control? I don't recommend the implant at all."

• It...
• September 11, 2022

For Birth Control "So I’ve been on the pill since I was 17, and now I’m 32. I’ve always switched different types of birth control and finally decided to try something different, and OMG, biggest mistake of my life. My first cycle was normal! Then the second cycle, I bled straight for over 70 days, it was miserable! I was having nonstop cramps, and I was so depressed! I decided I was not going to push through anymore and took it out, and thank God! I finally stopped bleeding! Never again."

• Kai...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2022

For Birth Control "The worst mistake I’ve ever made!!!!! It seems that I bleed and spot more months out of the year than having a dry day. I’ve had the implant for three years now! And I’m still suffering. The IUD was a better choice, and I regretted thinking about the pain it would have cost me inserting it, but hey?! At least I wouldn’t be suffering to this extent of constant bleeding or now becoming overweight and having difficulty losing it. Like what? Yeah, okay, I haven’t had any pregnancy accidents or surprises, but still, you know what? The constant acne, bloating, spotting, and discomfort does not compare to how well and better I was off on the IUD or pills. This implant is not for everyone. This implant is not for me either, it seems. I should have played Russian roulette with God and just gone natural or looked at other options. But no. I didn’t do my research or listen enough."

• Km9...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2022

For Birth Control "Constant bleeding, awful anxiety and depression, high blood pressure, low blood sugar, and palpitations."

• Ala...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 26, 2022

For Birth Control "I just turned 15 when I got the Nexplanon. I never wanted the implant, but it was literally the only option my mom gave me, so I got it. I was on my period when I got it placed, and my period didn’t go away. After I bled for 3 months, I went back to the doctor, and she gave me BC pills to take alongside the Nexplanon. It stopped the bleeding, but my doc wouldn’t let me stay on the pills. I started bleeding again, and it didn’t stop. I started to notice I was having low blood sugars and feeling sick after I ate. I got the Nexplanon taken out after being on it for 7 months, and a month later, I was diagnosed with type one diabetes (autoimmune disease). What’s crazy is the Nexplanon can cause higher blood sugars, and I told my doctor my family had a history of diabetes and other autoimmune diseases, but she still put me on it without trying to show there were other options and/or non-hormonal birth control options. The implant is very hit or miss. But personally, I didn't like it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 18, 2022

For Birth Control "This is my second time trying Nexplanon, and I regret it once again. It affects my daily mood and has me thinking I am insane. I literally catch myself crying every day. Most days I feel very depressed and don’t want to get out of bed. It even affects the way I feel as though I treat my 2-year-old daughter. I am grateful for my daughter, but sometimes I have no energy to be a mother. Let’s not talk about the bleeding. I think the reason I am so miserable is because I’m always BLEEDING. I try not to get excited when I’m not on my period because I know it will come back on within a day. Please avoid this birth control!!"

• han...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 17, 2022

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control I have ever had! I do not recommend it to anybody. The first couple of months was fine, and I didn’t have a period at all. But after that, I bled every single day. Sometimes I would stop bleeding for like a week, and then the bleeding would start back up again. So I went to a different OBGYN, and he had said he also does not recommend anyone having this birth control. -1000/10 would not recommend it."

• Jad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 25, 2022

For Birth Control "Exacerbated my mental health issues severely with paranoia, anxiety, depression. Heavy bleeding the majority of the time I had it in and became severely anemic and lost weight. I would never recommend this to someone with even the mildest of mental illness."

• pug...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 8, 2022

For Birth Control "I had a horrible experience even from the insertion when the nurse punctured me, but the implant remained in the device, leading to a second puncture that left a bigger scar. After 6 months of weight gain, fatigue, and bleeding, I asked my doctor to take it out, but she convinced me it just “needed time to adjust.” I let it poison my body for another 6 months. I gained a total of 40 lbs, never stopped bleeding, and developed fatty liver and osteoarthritis even with exercise. When it was removed by a different clinic, the doctor told me it had been embedded in my muscle. I feel a lot better now that it’s been out for two years. I lost the weight I had gained (now my body looks different from the stretched skin). Still dealing with a slight hormone imbalance, complications from fatty liver, and osteoporosis. Most upset about how much they pushed it on me and lied when I asked if it would cause weight gain and other health issues. They want money, so do your own research."

• Pop...
• February 8, 2022

For Birth Control "Absolutely horrendous, have had the implant in for over a year now, and I’m finally able to get it removed this week. Trying to get the doctor's surgery to remove it has been a task, even though for the past year I’ve had constant bleeding and spotting, which is now taking its toll. I feel drained and tired, my moods are all over the place, which they have never been. I was put on the pill alongside the implant to see if the bleeding would stop, which it didn’t, it just made me feel worse: headaches, spots, bloating. I wouldn’t recommend the implant to anyone, it’s been more hassle than it’s worth."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I have had the implant in for 7 months, and the toll it had taken on my personality and mental health is unbelievable. Health-wise, I barely get my period. When I first got it, for the first month there was constant bleeding, but ever since then I've only had my period once. I do not feel myself on this, I cry way more often, and I'm way more moody and irritable now. I will also lash out at people for the most stupid things and cause petty arguments because of my mood swings. I do not recommend personally, but we'll all have our different experiences."

• Jes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 6, 2021

For Birth Control "I want to start by saying this was my first experience with birth control. Knowing me and how I am, I didn't think I would remember to take pills or get the injection regularly, and this also seemed more cost-efficient. I have never had too much of an issue with depression, anxiety, or mood swings. Nothing I felt I needed help with, but within the first few months of having this implant, I was having mental breakdown after mental breakdown. I would be sobbing to my now husband about how different I felt and sad, empty. There was also a MASSIVE change in my sex drive as well. We were extremely active, and it was like someone pulled the emergency brake on it. It was so hard to work through and continued to be hard. My implant expires in January of 2021, and I am so happy. I'm tired of feeling exhausted and angry 24/7. I just want to feel normal again and finally STOP bleeding because seriously, I was on my period like the entire time I had it. But hey, I'm not pregnant, right? Ugh."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2021

For Birth Control "I’m currently almost 35 years old. I was only on birth control pills back in high school. 15+ years of no hormones in my body, and now I remember why. I got Nexplanon in July 2021, one month after having my second son. (2 under 2). I don’t want any more children. This was a pretty good option. So I thought. 4 months in and I’m irritable, moody, sometimes filled with rage, hot flashes, night sweats. Body odor no matter how much you shower. Headaches, dizziness, sadness, low sex drive, and CONSTANT bleeding. After 4 months, I probably went two weeks total, not consecutive without bleeding. It is awful. I’m getting it out in a few days, and I hope I feel like myself again. I was a go-with-the-flow, happy, and fun-loving person. Now I’m just miserable and have a short temper. I’m removing it before the father of my children leaves me because I’m impossible to be around. It’s different for everyone, but I would never recommend it to anyone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2021

For Birth Control "I got this thing on May 27, 2021, after I had my second son. It is now November 2021, and I’m getting this thing out. I find myself out of touch with many things. Since I’ve had it, I bleed the majority of the time, and it happens whenever. That bothers me, not knowing when I’m usually on beat with my cycle as to when and how long. I think it’s different for everybody. A family member of mine has it, and it works well for her, it’s not something I would recommend. It’s awful for me."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 1, 2021

For Birth Control "I was 19 when I had gotten the Nexplanon placed. It was great for probably the first two months after being placed. Then I started to have “breakthrough” bleeding that lasted until I took the implant out, which was about 10 months of consistent bleeding and having to use feminine products. This medication made me very emotionally sensitive, and a lot of things made me feel upset, and I would cry. I had my implant taken out in March of 2021, and I have since developed severe Major Depressive Disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Now I must say that I’ve been on lots of birth control pills, and all of them have caused me to bleed, so this may just be my body being sensitive to hormones."

• Gin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 28, 2021

For Birth Control "I had my Nexplanon for about a year and a half, and I have super mixed feelings about it, but eventually got it removed. I liked that insertion was really easy, I didn't have anxiety/depression issues, and it was super reliable so I could have unprotected sex. However, I didn't like that I bled nonstop for months at a time. It worked great as a birth control because who wants to have sex when you're constantly bleeding? I ruined all of my underwear by constant breakthrough bleeding. I didn't know when, how much, or how long I'd bleed. After a three-month-long period, I eventually gave up and got it removed, which was a nightmare of a process. I usually think that everyone should do what's best for them, but I really don't recommend this. Almost everyone I know who tried Nexplanon had the exact same bleeding issues as I did."

• Gin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 28, 2021

For Birth Control "I had my Nexplanon for about a year and a half, and I have super mixed feelings about it, but eventually got it removed. I liked that insertion was really easy, I didn't have anxiety/depression issues, and it was super reliable so I could have unprotected sex. However, I didn't like that I bled nonstop for months at a time. It worked great as a birth control because who wants to have sex when you're constantly bleeding? I ruined all of my underwear by constant breakthrough bleeding. I didn't know when, how much, or how long I'd bleed. After a three-month-long period, I eventually gave up and got it removed, which was a nightmare of a process. I usually think that everyone should do what's best for them, but I really don't recommend this. Almost everyone I know who tried Nexplanon had the exact same bleeding issues as I did."