Nexplanon and Spotting: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• December 11, 2018

For Birth Control "I had this birth control for 3 years. I had it put in when I was 18 and just recently got it removed a few months ago, I am currently 21. Everyone’s body reacts to birth control differently, so this is just my experience. All I can say is that I’m currently looking for a new birth control. While being on this Nexplanon, I had periods lasting me over 2 months straight. I also had a lot of brown spotting that would last up to 3 weeks, then, there were times I would go 4 months with no period at all. People must be aware that birth control can affect mood swings and your mental health. I found myself very irritable and angry. I also struggled with anxiety prior, but this birth control definitely amplified it to where my anxiety became crippling and almost unbearable. I was also very sluggish through the day, not wanting to get out of bed and found myself sleeping a lot. I do not see myself going back to this birth control, and I will be looking for a new one!"

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2018

"The only reason I got the implant was for medical reasons. I had severe, immobilizing cramps every month that sometimes sent me to the ER. Birth control pills made me throw up all night, no matter what brand I tried. I’ve only had my Nexplanon in for about 2 or so months, and I strongly dislike it. I understand it takes about 6 months to get used to, but I’m not sure I can wait that long. Horrible mood swings began after the first week. My period hit early, and I’ve had nonstop spotting since then. I get randomly nauseous, and I notice I have more and more stomach aches. FYI, I eat a very healthy diet, and I work out 5 days a week. My body is retaining water more than normal, and I’m very uncomfortable. Haven’t felt very well since I’ve gotten it. So tempted to get it removed. My boyfriend even noticed I feel sick more often than not. It’s not a fun time."

• NTa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2018

For Birth Control "I had the Nexplanon for a year and a half, and I wasn't aware of the fact that I wouldn't have my periods after its insertion. I had it removed yesterday. I agree that Nexplanon is very effective in preventing pregnancy. However, I wouldn't recommend it because of its impact on the body. I had horrible bleeding after the insertion for about 4-5 months continuously and mood swings that weren't a good sign. After a couple of months, my periods stopped, and I only have spotting for a few days in between, and I never know when this spotting will stop. It's like it would continue for 2-3 weeks of spotting, which is not a big deal but kind of irritating. Since our body is designed to have a normal cycle of periods, I wouldn't recommend anything that will stop this, which might lead to some fertility issues in the future. We never know. That's my opinion."

• Ken...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 15, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on the pill for 3.5 years, had almost no side effects, and got greedy. Decided it was too much trouble to remember every day, so I talked to my doctor, and she highly recommended NEXPLANON. I haven’t gotten pregnant, and that’s legitimately the only positive. I have had every side effect in the book! Started with spotting, then acne, my mood is all over the place, and now I have absolutely insatiable hunger! Stomach growling, head hurting, automatically infuriated because of the very real hunger every 2 or 3 hours! If I try to ignore it, I’m miserable. I have never had depression or mood swings before this birth control, and now it’s horrible. I FINALLY have an appointment next month for removal, and I can’t wait to get rid of it!"

• Ell...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 30, 2018

For Birth Control "I have had this implant going on 4.5 years. After the first 2 years of not having my period, I started spotting every day. Nothing heavy, so I had that implant taken out. My doctor had to make two cuts in my arm to get it out. She dug in my arm with a tweezer for about 15 minutes. She said it was implanted too deep. I then had another one implanted in pretty much the same spot. And for about 1.5 years, no periods. I just started spotting again. I did develop a CPH (chronic paroxysmal hemicrania) migraine about 4 months into the second implant, and I thought I was dying (chronic one-sided migraine). I had this for about 3-4 months until I was diagnosed (no migraine medicine worked), and my doctor had me try indomethacin, which worked. I don’t know if this was caused by the Nexplanon. But I read a similar review of someone having one-sided migraines and figured I should share my experience in case it is related. I put on weight also. I will be having this taken out soon, and I am wondering if my migraines will go away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 4, 2018

For Birth Control "Prior to using the Nexplanon, I had been using oral birth control pills, but I decided to go on Nexplanon for the increased protection. I didn’t react poorly to my oral BC pills, so I figured I wouldn’t have trouble with the Nexplanon, but I spotted for 10 months with breaks of ~1-2 weeks every two months. I didn’t get pregnant, so I guess it did its job, but it was so not worth the side effects. Also, my acne increased noticeably, and my skin is just returning to normal after 6 months off the implant. This birth control was literally the worst thing ever. Would not recommend to anybody."

• Hil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2018

For Birth Control "Nexplanon just hasn't agreed with my body at all. Got it inserted in September 2017, it's now April 2018, and I'm getting it removed next week. I've been spotting every day, three weeks out of every month for the past three months, and I've gained 15 pounds that I can't get rid of. I'm active and eat well, but the weight keeps piling on. Super detrimental to my self-esteem and well-being."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I had this implanted about 6 months ago and have been struggling ever since. I bled straight for almost the full first month. Lately, the birth control has been affecting my hormones. I have constant spotting and constant changing smells of my vagina. One day the spotting from the blood will smell like an extremely sweet and 'beer-like,' the next day it smells totally different. I have been having heavy liquidy discharge (probably due to the increase in estrogen). I am always feeling self-conscious about the smell of things down there. I have had clear skin all my life, suddenly, I am having bad breakouts that leave dark marks on my face. I have probably gained 5 pounds on this birth control but would have gained more if I didn't control my cravings. I do not like this medication and plan to get it removed ASAP."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I had Nexplanon placed in December 2017. At first, it was great, nothing for a week. Then, the mood swings started. I became a different person, very angry. I had a headache every day for the 6 weeks also. Little spotting, though. It was nice not to have the heavy bleeding of a period. This may be a great option for some, but if you had problems with other progesterone-only birth control, I would not try it."

• Dep...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 26, 2018

For Birth Control "I got the implant in late May of 2016, and finally got it out today, not even a year later. I got it to protect against pregnancy. It resulted in me getting very depressed and aggressive towards my family. There was no benefit from this drug. And it didn't stop there, I also had CONSTANT spotting. It's really hard to be bleeding all the time and do things like live a fun life and play sports. I would not recommend this at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2018

For Birth Control "Worst experience ever!! Started the implant about September of 2017... Everything was fine until the end of November when I started spotting, no appetite, which led to severe dehydration and hospitalization... Woke up one morning with a swollen top lip, very red. Come to find out Nexplanon can sometimes cause angioedema (swelling of the lips, throat, eyes, etc.), which is an allergic reaction to the medication... always tired, body aches, acne, sometimes itching at the site of the implant, headaches often.... Thank God it’s being removed this Friday! I wouldn’t recommend, but again everybody has different reactions... just think twice!"

• S B...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I got the implant in January of 2015. I spotted and had a light/medium period every day for about two and a half months, which of course sucked, but I thought it would stop once the implant 'kicked in' and my body got used to it. I didn't have my period again until January 2016. They have been LONG, PAINFUL, and HEAVY. They last about 2-4 weeks and are irregular. Sometimes there are a couple of months between periods, but others only a week. I have become moody and emotional. ALSO, my arm is always PAINFUL and becoming NUMB and is covered in big blue veins. And I have cysts on my right ovary now that I have to get surgically removed. (Not sure if that has to do with the implant.) I haven't gotten pregnant. That is the only positive."

• Asd...
• July 23, 2017

For Birth Control "This might be too much info, but I'm gonna share. I hate this thing. I'm exhausted all the time, mood swings, and I'm depressed. The bleeding is ridiculous. My doctor told me I might have spotting in between periods and this is a lot more than spotting. My period usually lasts five days, and I had it for about ten and then stopped for a week, and now I've had it nonstop for another eleven. THIS SURE DOES PREVENT PREGNANCY... MOSTLY CAUSE I'M NOT HAVING SEX! I don't feel comfortable having sex when I'm bleeding heavily, and my boyfriend doesn't do well with blood. He's very understanding, but it's frustrating because I had high hopes for this to work, and I'm disappointed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 12, 2017

For Birth Control "I had this implant inserted in March 2016. I had it removed on June 1st, 2017. Between those dates, I spotted constantly, never had a consistent cycle, had horrible mood swings to the point my husband didn't even know who I was - I was so awful to him at times. Migraines that were crippling for days, an excessive amount of weight gain, low self-esteem, no libido, I didn't even want my husband around me, much less touching me in any way. At first, I was unsure of it because I was constantly bleeding, so I was told to take ibuprofen 800 mg 3x a day to slow it down. Then, at the 8-month mark, I was put on birth control pills as well to keep myself from bleeding. I hated it the entire time and wanted it out, yet was pushed to keep it in. I wouldn't recommend it at all!"

• Kai...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 11, 2017

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon inserted in November 2014. My fella and I have never used standard protection, and we've never gotten pregnant in nearly 3 years. So, good there. However, this birth control is horrible. I am healthy, I eat right and work out consistently for years. I've gained 30 pounds since Nov 14. I've upped all of my workouts to 3-4 hours, 4+ times/wk with zero change. I've never had such extreme bouts of depression in my life. If not for yoga, meditation, and my sweetheart of a fella, I'd lose my mind. I've spent a ton on pregnancy tests due to the whacked-out side effects, including randomly missed periods. My periods are horrible: cramps, random cycle lengths, never 28 days apart, and random spotting. The side effects are horrible."

• Cap...
• June 19, 2017

For Birth Control "Sadly, this didn't work for me. I had it in for about a year and experienced heavy spotting in between periods, as well as severe fatigue and body aches right before every cycle. No fun. Had it removed and feel much better, but 8 months later, I have a nasty scar on my inner arm from the removal (I have pale skin that bruises and scars easily)."

• Veh...
• June 9, 2017

For Birth Control "Seriously, how dare they sell this as something that's supposed to almost STOP your period. I understand they warn you it can be random, but no, that is not what this is. I'm on my second year with this and have even had one check-up to complain about my almost CONSTANT period. I was told to try ibuprofen and even given a script for birth control pills (but really, if I'm on birth control already, why should I have to take the pills too?) to help stop the endless spotting-which for me is more of a constant gush, just enough to ruin my entire outfit, but not enough to get my money's worth for all the tampons and panty liners I keep having to use as a precaution. The first six months was the only time this bar was worth the burden."

• Aud...
• May 2, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Nexplanon for about a year and a half now. I decided to go with this form of BC because I am so forgetful that the pill was just not an option for me. This has honestly been one of the most frustrating experiences I have ever had. When I first got it inserted in my arm, I noticed I had my period practically every day, and this went on for about 3 months until I went back to my gynecologist and she said it was completely normal and that it should stop. Well, it hasn't at all. Every day I have spotting, and it's gotten to the point where I have to wear a tampon every day. Every time I have sex, there is always blood everywhere. And it's hard explaining why I am always on my period to my partner, and it's made me self-conscious."

• new...
• April 3, 2017

For Birth Control "I've had Nexplanon since July 2016. From July to December, I was bleeding nonstop. The bleeding let up on random days, but I continued to have a period. My gyno put me on 1 mg estrogen pills to help me regulate, and I stayed regulated until March 2017. Now I'm starting to have the brown discharge/spotting every day, cramps, tender breasts, etc. I literally have pregnancy symptoms, and I'm most definitely not pregnant. Since the Nexplanon was inserted in July, I have gained all my pregnancy weight back (35 lbs). I'm already on depression medication, and since I've had the Nexplanon, it's like the medication doesn't even work. I'm tired all the time and depressed. Definitely do not recommend. The only reason I gave it a 2 is because I didn't get pregnant."

• M A...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 18, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm 20, and I got Nexplanon 8 months ago. The first 6 months, I bled constantly (although it was light, it was still a huge pain in the ass), but I stuck it out because my GP said it would take 4-6 months for my body to fully adjust. I've gained about 30 lbs. I have terrible mood swings, I get angry very easily, and I also have a very low sex drive, so my relationship is suffering. Since the initial 4-6 month period, I've had terrible acne, which I've never suffered from before, and I've had discharge and regular spotting. At least it has been effective, since the weight gain, low sex drive, and acne have pretty much made me never want to have sex again, but I cannot wait to get it taken out of my arm... although I hear that's the worst bit!!"

• Bri...
• January 9, 2017

For Birth Control "This was the first birth control I have ever used. I'm in my early 20s, so I thought this would be the best option. A co-worker of mine swore by it, the only thing she warned me about was slight spotting for the first month. Two weeks after getting the implant, I bled for almost a month straight! Not harmless spotting either, some days a light tampon or pad, and other days it was much heavier. I stopped bleeding for two weeks, and now I'm bleeding again for the past week. I haven't even been on this for 6 months yet, and I'm ready to get it removed. Almost every review I read says how much these women have bled. Not a fan."

• Tur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2016

For Birth Control "I have only had Nexplanon for about 1 month, and I already feel like getting it taken out. I had a cycle in November right after I had my daughter in September. My cycle in November only lasted 3 days, and on my last day was the day I got Nexplanon in. The first of December, I started spotting old blood/brown blood for 7 days, then my regular period came. I was happy, then it lasted for 7 days straight. Okay, I can handle that. So from Dec 8 to Dec 14, I had my cycle, so for 3 days, no bleeding or spotting of any kind, then all of a sudden, on Dec 19, I started spotting brown/old blood, and that is still continuing. Now I'm starting to get cramping with it, and the blood is starting to turn a brighter red. In calling my doc today."

• Mom...
• November 27, 2016

For Birth Control "My 15-year-old daughter had Nexplanon implanted 3 months ago. Best choice given she has horrible periods and a busy schedule. Since then, she has been sick several times, lost interest in a lot of things she once enjoyed, and has continued to have light spotting since the implantation. 2 months ago, she had a sudden onset of facial swelling. Then, 5 weeks ago, she started having sinus/allergy symptoms. After 3 rounds of antibiotics, a steroid plus starting allergy pill and nose spray, she has not gotten better at all. Actually seems to have gotten worse. She's miserable. She has constant cold chills, headaches, shortness of breath, restless sleep, and moodiness. She almost seems depressed. She has had spotting the entire 3 months since it was implanted. She goes Monday to get it removed."

• Swe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2016

For Birth Control "I got the implant in July 2016, right as my husband and I were getting married. Since the day I got it put in, I have been on my period. Some days it is light spotting, other days it is super heavy, but there is always something. I also have no sex drive whatsoever, have been super emotional, and have become depressive at work, not caring enough to do what I need to do. I'm constantly tired and sleep on the couch more than I do anything else."

• Meg...
• August 25, 2016

For Birth Control "I had the Implanon for three years, and it did the job well. Didn't get pregnant and had barely any side effects. Since getting the Nexplanon... never again. After a few months, constant bleeding lasting more than a month at times. Irregular bleeding and spotting. Constant headaches affecting work and stopping me from getting enough sleep. The GP advised I keep taking paracetamol... not helpful. I didn't get acne but never have suffered with it. However, the mood swings are out of control, and I can feel myself getting angry over nothing at times. I have had episodes of depression and crying, and I am usually a very happy person. This implant messes with the body."