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Nexplanon User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

Nexplanon has an average rating of 5.0 out of 10 from a total of 4,865 reviews on Drugs.com. 32% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 43% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Nexplanon

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Aan...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • October 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I got my first Nexplanon in 2016 and had it in for a little over three years. The first couple of years were great, my period stopped. Towards the end of the 3-year mark, I started getting more migraines, had two burst ovarian cysts, and was irregularly bleeding. I thought it was just because the hormone level had gone down, so I got a new Nexplanon reinserted. Two months into the new one, I lost all sex drive. Read forums like crazy and was astonished to see people feeling the exact same way. Didn’t even want to be touched. Looking back, I did have increased anxiety and hadn’t felt like myself for a while. Times when I should’ve been happy but wasn’t. If you feel like you aren’t quite feeling yourself, don’t discount it! Great for preventing pregnancy and worked for me for a while, but everyone’s body is different. Waiting to see how I feel without it before potentially getting a copper IUD."

5 / 10
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  • 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!!"

1 / 10
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10 Report
  • Mon...
  • January 7, 2013

For Birth Control "I got the Nexplanon about 3 months ago. I'm gonna break down my list of issues. I have been bleeding/spotting ever since then, total change in my hair texture (bad), acne which I have always had clear skin, always feeling down, weight gain, weak, and no energy whatsoever. I have done everything but the Depo Provera shot. I guess I just gotta take my chances. Wish I didn't have to take it out, but I can't deal with ALL the side effects. Hope this helps anyone."

2 / 10
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41 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • man...
  • July 21, 2014

For Birth Control "I got this put in roughly 7 months ago, and honestly, I've had no problems at all. I was, like many, nervous because of all the horror stories I heard about bleeding and moodiness and decreased sex drive, but decided to try it. I have had no prolonged bleeding, I get a 3-4 day long period once a month. I am not moody at all, which is great, because the pill made me crazy. And I haven't noticed a significant difference in my sex drive, though it has decreased a little - my boyfriend and I have had no problems. I'm glad my body reacted positively to this, because it is a very efficient method of birth control. I truly recommend at least trying it to see how your body reacts, and be sure to remember to give it some time to settle in."

9 / 10
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  • lis...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • May 11, 2023

For Birth Control "Wow! If only I had known about this site beforehand! I have Nexplanon in my arm, which is overdue to be taken out. I've had it for the full 3 years. It's the first time I've tried it. I previously used oral contraceptives. I have 2 children, 8 and 16, and have just turned 37. I have suffered from mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, most of my life, on and off. Within a few days of having this implant, I turned into a different person. I felt lower than I had ever felt in my life and felt angry and frustrated all the time. It was horrendous. My family noticed the change in me, and I just felt extremely empty inside, and my only emotion was anger. I will never take this implant again. It has even put me off trying ANY IMPLANT for that matter. Be extremely cautious. I'm surprised nobody informed me of all the negative side effects regarding mental health, even a possibility, considering I had mental health issues in the first place."

1 / 10
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  • syr...
  • December 1, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Nexplanon for 4 months and taking it out. I get headaches every day, I'm on medium to light periods the whole month (always bloated), and I'm losing a lot of hair, not the average amount of hair loss after a pregnancy... also regular acne breakouts which I didn't have. Everyone is different."

3 / 10
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  • Jer...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • April 7, 2020

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon in August of 2018. Almost two years of having it, I’ve never stopped bleeding. I have stopped for about a month or two total, but the year and a half I’ve been on it, the bleeding has gotten worse. The cramps are unbearable, the smell has worsened, and the headaches are so, so, so bad. I got put on antidepressants because my anxiety skyrocketed. I plan on getting it removed ASAP. The only good thing about it is not getting pregnant, but it’s still not worth it, in my opinion. The physical and emotional toll outweighs the one pro it has."

3 / 10
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  • Ang...
  • March 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I had the Nexplanon inserted on March 15 after having my son. Pros: I didn't get pregnant, and the first one I had, I did not have a period for 2.5 years. Cons: Over the last five years, my depression and mood have gotten worse. I have dealt with depression before, but not to the point I didn't want to be alive anymore. Mood swings from extreme anger to crying my eyes out. At one point, I actually thought I was bipolar. I've had this implant twice - March 2015 and June 2017. The second go-around was awful. I did not have a period the first go-around, but the second it was terrible. Before I had my son, I was very regular - every 28 days, bled normally for 3 days, and it would taper off and be done by day 5. With the implant, I would have extreme mood swings a few days before, and then I would bleed heavily for 4-6 days, and finally on day 7 it would taper off. It never was regular. Some months it would come a week early or would be a week late and only last 3 days. I would NEVER recommend this product to anybody."

3 / 10
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  • nex...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 7, 2016

For Birth Control "First off: Please, please, please have your estrogen and progesterone levels checked before starting Nexplanon. It will save you so much time and trouble. If you have low levels of progesterone (like me), this will work miracles for you. However, if you already have high levels of progesterone, this might make you irritable, give you acne, cause weight gain, etc. (these are symptoms of having high progesterone levels). I've always had migraines with aura, so my birth control selection was limited to progesterone-only along with non-hormonal options. I haven't had a migraine since starting this, my adult acne has cleared up, my depression has lessened, and I haven't had any spotting or periods! But seriously, ladies, get those hormones checked!"

10 / 10
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  • g19...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • June 17, 2023

For Birth Control "I am totally appalled by the lack of information regarding the side effects of this implant that is given to women before having it put in. The nurse I spoke to said nothing about negative effects besides the fact that it may interfere with my periods. It was simply made to sound like the best thing ever. Within a year, I had gained so much weight that I would be out of breath just walking down the road. After 2 years, the weight gain was so bad my GP put me on tablets for fluid retention. I didn't realize until last month, after coming across a TV show by chance about the lack of proper information provided to women regarding contraception, that the implant was to blame. After suffering from anorexia all my life, I am now obese!! And as for mood? I am in tears over everything, back on anxiety medication and antidepressants, as I have suffered from blood clots. I should not have been given it in the first place! BAN IT!"

1 / 10
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  • Dod...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • August 20, 2020

For Birth Control "I've had a very bad experience with this implant. I reacted very badly to the hormone in it. Got it put in July 2019 and just got it removed in August 2020. I kept it in for around 13 months, it's been in long enough to settle down. Unfortunately, I started experiencing mental health issues. My depression and anxiety were very debilitating to the point that it caused my heart rate to go up to 132, which was scary. I began having constant dark thoughts and lost interest in doing the things I used to enjoy, like exercise and going out. I experienced almost a lot of side effects. My periods were abnormal, they would come when they wanted. Sometimes, it would be bleeding and spotting between periods, then nothing for a couple of months. It was not worth it for me. So happy to have it gone. I couldn't deal with the side effects any longer, it started to have a big impact on my social life."

3 / 10
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  • Ria...
  • January 4, 2021

For Birth Control "I used Nexplanon back in 2014 after I gave birth to my daughter. It worked great the first two years, but once I hit year 3, I was bleeding nonstop. I couldn’t handle the bleeding anymore, so I got it removed. I recently had another one put in again in August 2020 and have been bleeding ever since. Maybe one or two days off every two weeks, but it’s been constant bleeding. I’ve also noticed an increase in hair loss. I’m emptying my brush every single time I brush my hair. Literally, handfuls of hair are gone. I also noticed that I have developed major anxiety. Specifically, “death” anxiety. I’ve never been paranoid of tragedies before. It keeps my mind going at all times. I’m also gaining weight little by little, and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to lose it. I’m hoping to get it removed this week so I could see a change in my overall health. After reading other people’s feedback, I’m realizing the effects of this birth control that I didn’t even think about as listed above."

3 / 10
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  • Pis...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 9, 2020

For Birth Control "I got my Nexplanon put in on August 5, 2020. The first month, my cycle lasted a week. The second month, I didn’t have a period at all. Currently, I have light spotting for almost 2 weeks. My sex drive is still the same, the main reason why I don't like it is the irregular bleeding. My moods haven’t changed, and I haven’t been feeling depressed. Sometimes my arm feels weird where the insert is. The only side effect that I have so far is irregular bleeding, which is my dislike. I am going to keep it in a little longer to see if the irregular bleeding changes. Nexplanon is effective. My advice is, if you suffer from anxiety or depression, DO NOT GET it. I see more people with depression/anxiety having negative side effects with their mental health. Other than that, I love it."

7 / 10
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  • Hol...
  • February 14, 2020

For Birth Control "Please do not get Nexplanon. I just had it removed 2 days ago, feeling a bit better. Mood swings lessened. Had severe mood swings, depression, weight gain, and I ate very little carbs. Lack of energy, troubling constant thoughts, anxiety, high blood pressure. Please do not get."

4 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • November 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon over four years ago. I am now on my second round and really don't like it. Everyone's body is different, and it's very effective, I promise. My boyfriend and I never use condoms or pull out, and ya girl isn't pregnant, so it works - don't be scared. However, now my side effects are awful, and I feel like it's hard to lose weight. I broke out really bad, bloated all the time, low energy, mood swings, and my libido dropped (boo). I am over hormonal stuff, so I am switching to a copper IUD. I'm over the hormone."

3 / 10
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  • ROC...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 3, 2017

For Birth Control "I have had the implant for about 6 months now: I LOVE IT! Nevertheless, like with any other contraceptive method, there are side effects. For me, I haven't had my period in 3 months. BUT if you do your research and speak to a doctor, you'll realize that this is perfectly normal and not harmful to your health. I haven't had any migraines, no weight gain, no pain, nothing. I am okay with not getting a period - I'm just as healthy. Remember: just because it did not work out for you, does not mean that it won't work out for others. So, do your research before, during, and after getting a contraceptive. Stay safe and give it a try; if it doesn't work, take it out. It's not the end of the world; don't just bash it. Every woman's body is DIFFERENT."

10 / 10
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  • Not...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I had gotten the Nexplanon in February 2020, the first 2 months I had gotten 2 periods. One was normal for my body (about 4 days long), then the next month I had light bleeding for about 23 days. My doctor had told me this would be normal due to the change in hormones. At the beginning of this month, October 2020, my breasts had become extremely sore. A couple of days later, these extreme drop-to-the-floor cramps. I had gotten my period for exactly 8 days, now, three days later, I'm having these extreme cramps again. Also, around May, I had completely lost my sex drive, and I still struggle with it. Sex has become extremely painful since."

4 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • September 25, 2014

For Birth Control "I have had Nexplanon for nearly a year, and the only side effect I have ever had was itching at the implant site. I had it implanted in December of '13, and I have still yet to have any spotting or periods. I would definitely get it again."

10 / 10
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34 Report
  • Ali...
  • May 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve had the Nexplanon implant now for two years. I honestly am not happy with it whatsoever. Before the implant, I had already been diagnosed with severe depression and bipolar mania, it has worsened my mentality and moods. My periods last about 5 weeks, then I don’t have one until another 3 to 5 weeks. It is effective, yes, but I wouldn’t recommend this if you have any mental issues or if your mental health isn’t well."

1 / 10
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20 Report
  • Ton...
  • August 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I have gotten Nexplanon birth control in January of this year, and the whole time I have had it, I have been bleeding non-stop. I may see 2-3 days of blood-free after it comes right back and interferes with my sex life with my husband. I have passed out while out with my 8-month-old daughter due to it spiking my heart rate. I have black moments where if I’m alone, I will pass out. I already had depression from losing my 9-month-old twins last year, and it made it worse. I have committed a suicidal attempt 2 months ago while I have this drug in me. I am awaiting a date for removal. I don’t recommend this drug due to all the side effects that come along with it. I thought it would be great due to me being extremely fertile, however, my body is not accepting the drugs like most. It rarely accepts any form of birth control."

1 / 10
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  • MP0...
  • December 12, 2014

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon in October of 2014. Since getting it, I have not had a period. No spotting or bleeding, periods just stopped. It's great! No random breakouts on my face and no weight gain from it. Definitely the best option if taking a pill is hard for someone. I never could remember to take my pill, this was the best option. The insertion was much better than I thought, and it's been great ever since."

9 / 10
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33 Report
  • Ash...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • January 4, 2015

For Birth Control "It's a great birth control method. I've been on it for a year, but sometimes I get my period, and sometimes I don't. I don't like the fact that it stopped my period for 3 months, and then it came back, but for a few weeks. Otherwise, a great birth control method!"

7 / 10
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  • Ano...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve had the Nexplanon implant for about 10-11 months. At first, I felt fine, but after a week I started to feel emotional and a little sad. And as time went on, my mood got worse. I would get mad over little things and cry a lot! Sometimes for no reason. After like 5 months, I think my body adjusted or got used to it, and now I don’t feel like myself. I also had NO sex drive and would be painful during intercourse due to lack of lubrication. The plus side is I didn’t get any acne, and I didn’t lose or gain weight. I also never got my period. Will be removing soon. Not worth it :/"

6 / 10
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  • Aub...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I recently had the implant put in and would like to share my first thoughts; I plan to do an update in 3-6 months. The initial pain of having the implant inserted was mild - I would rate it even less painful than a shot. Your arm will be sore for a few days, and there will be bruising, but nothing to get excited about. It has now been 2 weeks, and I can't even tell that it is there except when I feel for the implant on purpose. My doctor warned of immediate and persistent bleeding/spotting, but I haven't experienced that so far. I've been losing weight for the past few months (on purpose) and haven't noticed a difference since the implant. No major issues with acne. Everybody is different, but don't let the negative reviews scare you!"

10 / 10
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  • Jaz...
  • April 2, 2015

For Birth Control "I had pretty moderate acne (I've suffered from acne since I was 10) when I started Nexplanon. I figured it was time to start on a birth control anyway, so I looked into Nexplanon. I was initially worried that it would make my acne even worse since that is what most people had been saying. Not the case. I've had it for almost 6 months. Skin has never been clearer. And no babies. So that's a plus."

8 / 10
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33 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.