Nexplanon and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Aes...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 11, 2018

For Birth Control "For birth control, it works AMAZING at preventing pregnancy, but the garbage it comes with is not worth it. I struggle to remember taking the pill, and this implant seemed much better than IUD insertion. I got it put in, all seems well, and I get my period on time. But the period never goes away, and it's a downward spiral from there. I kid you not, I bled heavily for 7 months straight, nonstop, and suffered greatly because of it. My depression became horrible, chronically fatigued all the time, painful cramps, frequent dizzy spells, and I developed a slight iron deficiency from losing iron from so much bleeding, to the point where I had to go to the ER from almost blacking out. Do not get this product. I was an idiot who ignored the reviews and stories, thinking I’d somehow be different. Don’t make the same mistake I did."

• Tea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 19, 2014

For Birth Control "I've had Nexplanon for two years this month. As soon as I had it inserted, I haven't had a period for two years. No spotting either. No acne and no weight gain. (Of course, I'm a P90X student also). But yesterday my first period in two years started. I sure hope it doesn't last long because this will be the first one I've had. And my cramps are awful this time. And, of course, no period for two years I had to run out and buy tampons right away. But I do recommend it."

• ksk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2017

For Birth Control "8 weeks since getting Nexplanon: My experience has been positive. Insertion pain was minimal and mostly centered around the needle used to inject the medicine that numbs your arm. There was a bit of bruising for a week or so after insertion, but since it has healed, I haven't felt a thing. No acne, no weight gain (well, there is weight gain, but it is from diet!), no mood swings, and NO PREGNANCY. My first period was a bit longer but way less crampy. For me, it has been a dream, and I absolutely love it."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2014

For Birth Control "I bled for 3 months straight on the Nexplanon. I asked my doctor to remove it several times, and she kept urging me to wait a little while longer. Several weeks later, my bleeding stopped. Two weeks later, it started again with heavy bleeding and cramping. Not liking it."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2020

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon in August, so it’s been almost 5 months, and my experience hasn’t been too bad. I got it while I was on my period, it ended early right after I got Nexplanon put in. I didn’t have it for a while, then I started a cycle of bleeding: 28 days, 10 days off, for two months. Didn’t get it at all last month, now I’m on a regular normal schedule of 28 days off, 5 days on. It is super weird, helped with cramps, not pregnant, didn’t gain that much weight, probably like 4 pounds, but I recommend. I get aura migraines, but ever since I’ve had Nexplanon, I haven’t had any. Everybody is different, but I guess I got lucky. Take care!!"

• 466...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I got the Nexplanon put in in March 2015 and have had one period since. It was just spotting but lasted three weeks, ending last week (part of the month of July). I don't get cramps or bloating anymore, but I went up a cup size in the first month on it! Overall, I have had a great experience with it and would definitely recommend it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I LOVED this birth control! I never gained or lost weight, never had any mood changes or bad period cramps. The only downfall is my period came when it wanted and left when it wanted, but it was never heavy, and I never had period cramps. Insertion and replacement always went smoothly and weren’t painful at all. I just recently (2019) had it removed because I wanted to try to start a family, but it’s been a few months now, and I haven’t had any luck. They say you should be able to get pregnant immediately after taking it out, but I’ve heard people haven’t been able to conceive until after a year of not having any birth control. After I have my first child, I plan on getting back on this."

• Fly...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I have had the Nexplanon since 2011, and I actually like it a lot. Prior to Nexplanon, I had very irregular periods (sometimes 2-3 weeks at a time) and extremely bad cramps, which required me to take prescription pain medication. Now, I have a period maybe 3-4 times a year, extremely light (I can wear a panty liner the entire time) and slight cramping on day 1. I haven't experienced any weight gain. I will say that my emotions are affected by the Nexplanon - when I am sad, I can get extremely sad, cry a lot, and stay in the slumps until I realize it, and not to mention, I can get very upset and go from 1 to 100 in like 10 seconds, as opposed to being on a more even keel prior to Nexplanon. But overall, I really enjoy it, and I have an appointment for my 3rd implant this week. :-)"

• Fly...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I have had the Nexplanon since 2011, and I actually like it a lot. Prior to Nexplanon, I had very irregular periods (sometimes 2-3 weeks at a time) and extremely bad cramps, which required me to take prescription pain medication. Now, I have a period maybe 3-4 times a year, extremely light (I can wear a panty liner the entire time) and slight cramping on day 1. I haven't experienced any weight gain. I will say that my emotions are affected by the Nexplanon - when I am sad, I can get extremely sad, cry a lot, and stay in the slumps until I realize it, and not to mention, I can get very upset and go from 1 to 100 in like 10 seconds, as opposed to being on a more even keel prior to Nexplanon. But overall, I really enjoy it, and I have an appointment for my 3rd implant this week. :-)"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 6, 2019

For Birth Control "I was 16 when I got Nexplanon, and I right away felt like I was a different person. I was angry, I hated life, and my depression was through the roof. My periods the first 3 years were pretty regular, but the periods always would last for 2 weeks+ and tremendously painful cramps. When I turned 18, it was time to get a new one, again, I felt the same symptoms but about 30 times worse. I never changed my eating habits and gained a little over 30 lbs, and the weight is impossible to shave off. Sex drive is a no, and my periods are consistently going with extreme flow and horrible cramps. My anxiety is at an all-time high, depression is even worse than before, I’m overall just not the same bubbly girl I was. My body’s always in pain, and not to mention, not till recently, I started blood clotting consistently for 2 weeks at a time and then switch back to a heavy flow, and I barely get 2 days between periods. I will not be choosing to ever use this birth control again. I recommend you don’t either, more harm than good."

• On...
• March 27, 2017

For Birth Control "I got my Nexplanon implant on Feb. 28th. Began a cycle about a week later. This cycle was different than my typical cycle, for I no longer had cramping or migraines. However, the cycle lasted for 9 days. After a few days of no bleeding, another cycle started. The second cycle lasted 5 days. Then I had an additional few days off, only to start a third cycle. When does this end? When does it regulate itself? This cannot be healthy to bleed for approximately 3 weeks every month. This is the complete inverse of what it should be. While I appreciate no cramps or migraines, I do not appreciate spending so much money on tampons and underwear. Getting frustrated and contemplating removal."

• Ste...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 21, 2020

For Birth Control "My experience with Nexplanon has been very good (2.5 years now)! My periods stopped completely once the implant was placed. The only time I get my period is following a particularly stressful/anxious month. The implant does seem to amplify some of my PMS symptoms right before those few periods I do get. Breast tenderness is off the charts, abdominal cramping, fatigue. Other than those few times per year I do get a period, the only other consistent side effect has been maybe 10 lbs of weight gain/difficulty losing weight. But that has been pretty easy to live/cope with."

• Nex...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 28, 2017

For Birth Control "Everyone reacts to BC differently. Switched to Nexplanon after being on a combination pill for a year. Switched because I was bad at taking the pill on time every day, and I had some side effects that I didn't like. No complaints since! Eventually, my periods became more irregular and stopped. Had my first period in a few months a few weeks ago and some spotting recently. Cramps seem worse, but nothing unbearable. No other side effects noticed really. Sometimes my arm hurts where it's inserted, but it's not a huge deal. Works great! I love it! If I stay on BC after the 3 years, I'll probably get Nexplanon again."

• sel...
• May 4, 2017

For Birth Control "So I got the Nexplanon inserted in April 2016. It's May 2017... so a little more than a year. Over the first 6 months, I was really happy about it. I didn't have a period, no worries about getting pregnant. It all seemed really good. These past 6 months, however, I have been bleeding off and on every two weeks. Sometimes I would even cramp like on a regular period. I have noticed mood changes but didn't think anything of it until I felt like I couldn't get out of this state of sadness. Now I'm starting to think it's the Nexplanon because there's no reason for me to feel this way. Also, my sex drive feels down, which is really unfortunate for my partner and me. It just depends on the person, but this is starting to make me reconsider switching."

• Ari...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2020

For Birth Control "Honestly, Nexplanon is different for everyone, I am sure. I got mine back in May 2019, and I was doing just fine for the first couple of months! No periods and no cramps. Fast forward a couple of months later, and I started getting canker sores in my mouth each time before my period and IBS. I also started having my period again and MAJOR cramps, my sex drive plummeted completely. Very bad acne breakouts and had 2 panic attacks, and ever since, I feel like I had anxiety and had to cut back on caffeine. I never had these issues before, so I’m convinced that the implant caused the root of these problems. I’ll give it a 3 because no pregnancy! I just wouldn’t recommend this to anyone with existing mental health issues. Unfortunately, it was not for me, getting it removed tomorrow and maybe trying the pill."

• Cam...
• March 1, 2016

For Birth Control "I have had the Nexplanon since October 2015, and I absolutely love it. There seem to be far more horror stories than good experiences, but it has been great for me. I have only bled for about a week, this was the week after having it implanted. I have occasional spotting, but it is very, very light. I can't blame mood swings on the Nexplanon because I have had bipolar the entirety of my life. I used to have terrible cramps monthly, and now I have none. I did gain about 4 pounds, but I barely noticed. I have not been hungrier since getting it, and I've been a lot happier. I have had a much better sex life with my boyfriend since getting it, and I hope this continues. I think this method of birth control is different for every person."

• Miz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I got the implant inserted in mid-March of 2015 and have had slightly delayed periods. Nothing too bad, but I'm used to having my period on time every month. Before, I would always have a pretty heavy flow and horrible cramps, but since I got the implant, I've had little to no cramping and fairly light periods. The only problem is that normally I'd have my period for 4-5 days, and since the implant, I'll easily go 7-10 days. I noticed some spotting on June 16th and assumed I was having a light period since the color was the off brownish color you'd usually have towards the end of your cycle. I have now had this for 22 days, and I just started experiencing cramps and a heavier reddish flow. Has anyone else had a similar issue?"

• Del...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 8, 2016

For Birth Control "When I first got it, I loved it, but now I hate it. I have been bleeding non-stop for roughly seven months. I am so emotional, I'm so moody that I'm unpredictable. I am easily pissed off, and I can't control any of it. I cry over simple things. The cramps are unbearable, it feels like a knife to my stomach. I do not recommend at all."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I had the implant removed after 5 months. I have bled constantly for the last 4 months, with on-and-off heavy bleeding every single day, painful cramps, and passing clots on and off. I had the implant put in to try to treat my very heavy periods and severe anemia. I started to feel really exhausted in the last few weeks and decided to have it removed. The doctor mentioned the bleeding has a good chance of settling down at the 6-month mark, but I didn't see that happening for me. I was just so exhausted, and it defeated the purpose for me."

• Jaz...
• July 19, 2016

For Birth Control "I am not sure which implant I got, but I am sure it is the Nexplanon. I got this May 2015. I had a period for at least 2-3 months straight. I have gone from weighing 150 to 220 pounds. I have experienced major mood swings, feeling really low about life, horrible cramps, and headaches all the time. I still have irregular periods. Sometimes I bleed for 2 weeks or more straight, or I bleed for 4 days, stop for a day, and continue bleeding. Sometimes I don't even have a period. Everyone's body is different and reacts to birth control differently, but I recommend you not get the implant. I had an awful experience with it. I get it taken out in 7 days and I am looking forward to it. I have talked to others, and they have had an awful experience with it as well."

• Can...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 4, 2016

For Birth Control "What a nightmare. I have had bleeding nearly nonstop since insertion 2 years ago. Give it time for your body to adjust, after 6 months, I was told. Then give it a year. Finally, I had a gynecologist agree to remove it. It has been effective as birth control considering I have only had a handful of weeks out of two years I have not been bleeding. And I'm not talking spotting, I'm talking period-like bleeding with cramps. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone and don't even know why it's been approved."

• CJL...
• August 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I've tried two other birth control methods before Nexplanon, which didn't work for me. I've been on Nexplanon now for six months. Insertion: The insertion process was easy, quick, and painless, although I was left with a sizable bruise that I had to explain away to acquaintances and coworkers. Period: I got the injection on day two of my period and haven't had a period or any spotting since, which is awesome. Even better? No cramps! Acne: I have mild acne and haven't seen a change for better or worse. Libido: My libido decreased when I first got on Nexplanon, but it's now back up to its original level, unlike when I was on pills. I had an increase in headaches for the first month, but now there are no other side effects to report."

• LGa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2017

For Birth Control "My two friends got the Nexplanon implant one month before I did, and they had no complaints, so I decided to get it as well (Jan 17). Now it is April 17, and I could not be happier with it. The three of us (all 20 years old) all got our periods once (which were slightly heavier than usual), and since then, our periods have disappeared!!! We have had no side effects, cramping, or depression, which we experienced while on the pill. I have recommended this to so many friends - not having your period is amazing."

• Tam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 3, 2015

For Birth Control "I first got the implant when it was called Implanon from 02/2012-02/2015. That experience was great. Hardly any periods. Did gain weight, but I didn't really care because I have horrible, long, painful periods. Anyway, I got it replaced, and my OB-GYN told me that Nexplanon was the new name and 'a little different.' My periods came back and with a vengeance. I have constant weeks of excruciating cramping with maybe 2-day breaks in between. It drives my boyfriend insane, of course. I'm debating on taking it out, but it has kept me from getting pregnant. Literally the ONLY perk."

• Tam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 3, 2015

For Birth Control "I first got the implant when it was called Implanon from 02/2012-02/2015. That experience was great. Hardly any periods. Did gain weight, but I didn't really care because I have horrible, long, painful periods. Anyway, I got it replaced, and my OB-GYN told me that Nexplanon was the new name and 'a little different.' My periods came back and with a vengeance. I have constant weeks of excruciating cramping with maybe 2-day breaks in between. It drives my boyfriend insane, of course. I'm debating on taking it out, but it has kept me from getting pregnant. Literally the ONLY perk."