Etonogestrel and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 2)

• blo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2014

For Birth Control "I chose to change from Yaz to Nexplanon because I wanted something new and easy. I had normal cycles until I started the implant. I bled for 30 days, then stopped for about a week. My ovaries hurt, my breasts hurt, I have gained about 15 pounds in 2 months, constant headaches, and absolutely no sex drive. Even cuddling and knowing what he wants next is dreadful. Do not get it. I want this out. Obviously, it does its job with no babies because you bleed too often."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2014

For Birth Control "I've had Nexplanon for 5 months, and it's just great. No periods, no babies. My sex drive is down a little, and I've put on a few pounds, but it's worth it to have no periods. I took my last month of pills at the beginning to transition, and I think that helped - I had a very brief period one month in, but haven't seen it since."

• bab...
• April 19, 2015

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon in August of 2014. All around it's effective. My only issues are with occasional nausea, increased appetite, weight gain, and horrible headaches. I am a little worried about the fact that I have zero libido and no desire to be intimate with my husband. I can deal with the rest, but that's a little nerve-wracking. And it's really annoying because he reminds me of it every day. Anyone else have this problem?"

• Anonymous
• December 6, 2010

For Birth Control "I got the Implanon late 2009, now December 2010, I'm debating if I want it removed. I thought this was going to be nice. A friend of mine warned me the worst was yet to come. A few months after getting it put in, I experienced weight gain. I'm still dealing with this unexplainable fatigue, and I've acquired a thyroid issue, as well as the nonstop bleeding, almost no sex drive, and I'm only 21. I don't know how much longer I can deal with feeling a wreck, but I have not been pregnant, and that's the only thing keeping me on this birth control."

• Mac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I had Implanon placed back in 2010 for 3 years, later found out it was extended to 5 years. I didn't notice any side effects right away. My sex drive was normal, skin normal, everything was fine. I noticed a major change after 4 years. I started getting depressed, angry for no reason, 0 patience. As time went on, I started becoming a really mean person, uninterested in everything. I would eat and snack constantly. I didn't want to go anywhere or see people because I just didn't care to converse or act like I cared what was happening in their life. My sex drive was low. My health started being affected too, I suffered from severe migraines, nausea, mood swings. I went to the doctor, had MRIs done, and nothing came from it. I was 'fine.' I didn't even think to associate my birth control with it. I started getting educated, read reviews, and saw that I was not alone. It is now removed, and I am slowly becoming the woman my family deserves. I would 100% not recommend this birth control. I hope this helps someone."

• Kan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I went on Nexplanon for maybe 6 months. I didn’t bleed at all, but I had zero sex drive and was severely depressed to the point of having harmful thoughts. I have had it removed for nearly 6 months now, and my hormones still haven’t settled. I get regular infections since, and I get depressed once a month for a few days."

• jay...
• March 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I started getting terrible side effects. Ridiculous mood swings, rage, social anxiety (I'm usually a social butterfly), depression, suicidal thoughts. I got a period/bleeding/spotting for 30 days straight, constantly exhausted, fatigued, lost my sex drive, very constipated and bloated, nausea. Because of the way I was reacting, I at times thought I was pregnant, so add in constant pregnancy scares. Hair was shedding like crazy. I have now fallen out of love with my boyfriend, I am unsure if this relationship will survive. He has been nothing but absolutely supportive and caring, but I've tried to break up with him at least 6 times in the last 2 months. I got the implant out after 3 months and now am on nothing. Everyone is different, trust your body and gut. Nothing says 'effective birth control' better than being super gassy, bloated and constantly cramping from not being able to poop around your new significant other, lol – can't get pregnant if you don't want to have sex, lol."

• Sam...
• January 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I had the Implanon inserted in October 2014. The first couple of weeks, I felt quite queasy and depressed. After a few weeks, I was fine. I have not gained any weight or had any nasty side effects. I have a light and short period once a month. However, sex drive has gone out the window."

• vbc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 1, 2015

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon inserted at my 6-week checkup after having my daughter in July 2014. I have experienced 20 lb weight gain since, severe cramps, depression, nonexistent libido, and nausea. Definitely works as birth control, but isn't worth the side effects."

• I...
• January 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I got the implant January 15th, 2019. The first couple of months were fine, insertion was a breeze, no periods for the first couple of months. Out of nowhere, I started bleeding with maybe a three-day break in between. It would range from spotting to very heavy bleeding. I also have anxiety and depression, my seasonal depression being the worst. My doctor put me on the same antidepressants I’ve used for years, and I started feeling extremely suicidal. I thought it was because we were trying medication for my ADHD for the first time in years. But I’m convinced it’s this dangerously stupid thing in my arm. I have zero sex drive, I feel like I hate everything around me, everything and everyone annoys me or frustrates me, I’m exhausted all the time, zero motivation, very little feelings of my usual bubbly, happy self. I so can’t wait to get this thing out. If I could give a negative amount of stars, I would. This will be taken out no later than the end of February."

• 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."

• Pea...
• May 31, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m getting it removed tomorrow. Nearly 5 months of non-stop blood. I was prescribed a birth control pill on top of this to help stop the bleeding, and it stopped it for a while but made my placebo bleeding much worse (can’t take continuous active pills without breakthrough bleeding). I passed a decidual cast in April. It was only 2 weeks that I experienced no bleeding without the pill. I bled lightly the entire time I was on the active pill, and I got off a week ago. This morning, I soaked through a regular tampon in 15 minutes, passed a quarter-sized blood clot, and now I’m sitting on the couch with a tampon and a pad praying that I can go work tonight. I’m only rating it a 2 because I had sex ONCE and didn’t get pregnant. My periods were regular before this, and I can’t wait to either get on the pill alone or go off BC. I’ve completely lost my sex drive... sex without a condom isn’t worth it. PLEASE READ: I read through all of these negative reviews when I got it and thought it wouldn’t happen to me. It did. LISTEN to these women."

• Jel...
• November 4, 2013

For Birth Control "My experience has been horrible. I got it after I gave birth in Nov 2012, and at the beginning it was cool. I have not gained weight, I have just lost mad weight, and it sucks. I weigh less than I've ever weighed before. In March of 2013, I got my period, and now it's Nov, and I still have it non-stop, full-on period, and it sucks. I have an appointment on Nov 13th to get it removed. I have lost my sex drive, I've been bipolar. This thing has made me crazy. I cannot wait to get it removed and have my life back. Would not recommend it to anyone."

• Lad...
• October 6, 2017

For Birth Control "I got the arm implant in March 2017, and it's been nothing but a nightmare. I have gained so much weight, I started to retain water, and I have been spotting for the last month. My sex drive is usually insane, but with the birth control, I lost my sex drive, and my skin took a toll. I don't recommend this birth control."

• App...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 21, 2019

For Birth Control "It is not worth it. Nexplanon has severely inhibited my life. For starters, the periods! I have been on this for about 10 months now. I have been constantly on my period since I got it in with no signs of stopping, only small (like one or two-day) breaks every month or so. I got the birth control so I could have sex, and now I feel like I can’t! The bleeding is so heavy. Loss of sex drive. Seriously. Anxiety and depression to the max. I can’t sleep because I imagine everyone I love dying. I cry when my husband leaves the house because I’m scared he will die in an accident. I get angry over stupid things and start to hate people when I used to pride myself on being kind. My husband begged me to remove the implant because the mood swings and anxiety were so bad. Weight gain. A lot of it. I’ve never struggled with my weight before. Now with the Nexplanon, I have gained 50 pounds with exercise and dieting, and the scale keeps going up no matter what I do - it’s hopeless."

• AWh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 29, 2014

For Birth Control "I had the Implanon inserted in June 2011 and had it taken out recently in June 2014 when my three-year mark was up. I'm giving it a six because it did prevent pregnancy in my case. Pros from my experience: no periods and no pregnancies. Cons from my experience: 80 lbs weight gained (I also had some family issues, work, and school. Not blaming it all on the birth control). NO sex drive at all, I was never in the mood, and my feet seemed to get bigger. Other than that, it's a great birth control. It works effectively on other people. Some have no weight gain, and some do. I do recommend this because it does work great for preventing pregnancy!"

• all...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I used to be an extremely bubbly, happy, and very sexual person. I've had the Nexplanon for a little over a month, and my weight has stayed almost the same (I went from 140 to 135). I'm very active and generally up for anything. After having the Nexplanon implanted, I've been miserable. I have at least 2 to 3 anxiety attacks weekly, I'm moody, hateful, irritable, and downright not myself. My poor boyfriend is trying to be a trooper, but I can barely contain my own feelings. My sex drive is GONE, whereas previously I was craving sex twice a day! I don't feel like myself. I had my period for 2 straight weeks after implantation, and now I'm bleeding very lightly continuously. I'm giving it a couple more weeks before I call to have it removed."

• New...
• December 5, 2014

For Birth Control "I had been on the pill for 7 years and had a good experience with them, but every time I'd forget to take a pill, I'd bleed. My husband and I decided to wait on kids, so I got the Implanon inserted. I love the convenience of not having to worry about taking a pill or having to worry about being pregnant if I forget the pill. The only major downfall is the lack of sex drive. I've been on the Implanon for almost 2 months, and it's affecting my sex life. My husband and I went from doing it 3 times a week to 1. I'm seriously considering taking it out early."

• Civ...
• May 2, 2019

For Birth Control "I feel a civic duty to share my experience because this is really the 'Evil Stick.' It all started great! The insertion was easy, had some mild spasms in the arm, and I didn't have my period for 5 months, which is cool! 8 months later, random spotting and had some serious heavy periods lasting more than two weeks! *Warning, this part will be very graphic.* I found myself sitting in the bathtub, I was bleeding out. I sat there for about an hour, and huge blood clots streamed out of me. I was horrified, as I have never seen anything like this in my life! Basically, I had two weeks of heavy periods and two weeks with no period. The period was so heavy I was iron deficient. I gained 25 - 30 pounds and had acne on my face. After 2 years, I am HANGRY! I'm hungry, angry, moody, zero energy. SEX DRIVE IS NONEXISTENT, flooding periods, eruptions of acne, and 30 pounds later...decided to remove the 'Evil Stick' next week! Argh...I regret my life decision."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 26, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve had the worst experience on this birth control, and I’ve decided on having it removed ASAP! At the beginning, I didn’t notice anything unusual as I was only 2 months postpartum, but now, after having it for 7 months, my moods are all over the place, I feel like a crazy person at times. I have to wear a pad now every day, going on 2 months. Noticed a change in vaginal odor (when I wasn’t bleeding). I feel lightheaded at times and weak. My sex drive is nonexistent, but more so now since I’m always on a period, I don’t even want to be bothered."

• 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."

• Ok ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 18, 2022

For Birth Control "DO NOT USE THIS BIRTH CONTROL. For years of Nexplanon, I never had a period and became super depressed without knowing it. I was moody and had basically ZERO sex drive. I developed a nasty ovarian cyst, which burst and became infected, this took six months to heal. I started bleeding HEAVILY every day, nonstop, for eight months total. Not to mention, the depression and low sex drive NEVER went away. I couldn't take it anymore and had the implant removed. My doctors kept saying the depression wasn't related to Nexplanon, but once it was removed, I did a complete 180 the first week! My daily bleeding immediately stopped, my skin even cleared up within a couple of days. After a week, I actually wanted to have sex again, and now I feel SO much happier, it's unreal. I'm usually not one to make posts or reviews, but after my experience, I truly believe no woman should be on this birth control, it messes up your hormones so much. The point is, if I could rate this 0/10, I would."

• 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!"

• mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2016

For Birth Control "2 months after I had my baby, I decided to get the Implanon. Worst mistake EVER. I had no sex drive at all, and my mood swings were so bad that my husband and I almost broke up over me being in such a bad mood all the time. I also got very depressed. I knew it wasn't the baby blues because I was so happy with my new daughter. Right after I took it off, I started feeling like myself again."

• Ann...
• February 5, 2015

For Birth Control "I have had Implanon since June 10th, 2012. I haven't had my period once, not sure if that's a good thing. I haven't spotted, but I'm not complaining. I have not got any acne. I have, however, gained almost 100 pounds. And I haven't really been able to lose weight while on the implant. And just recently, my sex drive has almost nearly disappeared."