Etonogestrel and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Eat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 3, 2021

For Birth Control "I had Nexplanon implanted about a year and five months ago after a pregnancy scare. I was not on any birth control prior to this for about three years. Before the implant, I had my spouts of depression that were due to some life circumstances and were usually treatable without major treatments. After one month with the implant, I had taken a major decline in my mental health. I had suicidal thoughts, major anxiety, and awful night terrors. I ended up having to start taking antidepressants and going to see a therapist. Then I developed a binge eating disorder over the past year. I had always been conscientious about my nutrition and health, but I have now gained about 30 lbs. I have become a couch potato with social anxiety and no energy past making myself some food. It prevented pregnancy but is not worth me living in misery anymore. I am having the implant removed next week."

• Scr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2023

For Birth Control "I gained 23 pounds in less than 3 or 4 months. I developed a complex ovarian cyst that burst and sent me to the ER. I am experiencing cystic acne galore, horrible mood swings, and loss of energy. Do not recommend."

• ava...
• July 7, 2014

For Birth Control "I have had trouble with finding the right birth control in the past. I tried pills, NuvaRing, intrauterine devices, Depo-Provera shots, but all of those gave me side effects-mainly weight gain, headaches, feeling sluggish, slipping out of place, inconvenience, etc. My doctor recommended the Nexplanon, and I love it. It's so convenient and no worries for 3 years. I've had it for 9 months now. There was a bruise where they inserted it in my arm, and it was a bit sore for about 3 days. A week after getting the birth control, I got my period, which lasted 8 days. The following month, my period was only 5 days, with some spotting in between periods. Then after the third month, I got a light period. Spotting stopped in between periods. Now I have been period-free for 6 months."

• 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!"

• sjs...
• December 21, 2014

For Birth Control "I've had it for about 4 months now. I had it put in at my 6-week checkup after having my son. I was losing a lot of weight before I had it. Then my weight loss just stopped. I've gained so much. My sex life is non-existent. I'm constantly feeling depressed. And I have no period, I prefer to have it."

• Mad...
• September 18, 2017

For Birth Control "Rating this a 9 because I spotted for a month after insertion. I have my period every other month with the same flow as before. No weight gain, acne, or mood swings. Just had my first bar removed and another put in. Insertion and removal are easy. The area is numbed with local anesthesia. Every woman is different, and it may take some trial and error to find a birth control that works for you! I chose this BC because I was sick of having to worry about the pill. Plus, Nexplanon is practically 100% effective! Don't be scared of all the negative reviews. Most people only write reviews when they are displeased!"

• not...
• February 17, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm scrolling through the reviews of this birth control, and I feel as if everyone is really magnifying the weight gain. I personally have lost 30 pounds from starting it a year and a half ago. The weight gain comes from cravings, the same type you have when you're on your period. If you are aware of these cravings and don't consistently overeat, you won't gain weight. My doctor told me that from the get-go, and I think it made me more conscious of the fact. I have had sporadic bleeding, but nothing a light tampon couldn't handle. It was a minor setback, but less of a setback than getting pregnant. Also, if the doctor couldn't find it for removal, it was put in wrong. I can literally feel mine under my skin when I touch it."

• 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."

• S C...
• May 3, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 21, and had Nexplanon put in 7 months ago. This is the first time I've ever been on birth control. I have gained a little bit of weight, and my breasts have gotten bigger. Sometimes I am hungry all the time for days, other times I am nauseous every time I eat. I get irritated easily and more often. But the worst is the bleeding. I bled for 3 months straight after I got it. It stopped for a week and a half, then bled for 3 weeks, stopped for a week, bled for two months, stopped for about a month, and now I have been bleeding for more than 2 weeks. It's never been spotting, it's a full-on period all the time. As convenient and effective as it is, I cannot handle the constant heavy bleeding. I am considering getting it removed."

• Cha...
• June 16, 2015

For Birth Control "This birth control has had me bleeding since December 2014. It is now June 2015. I hate this so much. My doctor didn't even tell me this was going to happen. I went back, and she said if it doesn't stop in 6 months, then I need to get it out. It has been 6 months of nonstop bleeding, and now I have to get it removed. It would have been nice to have been aware of this before getting it put in. Some people bleed for a couple of weeks or maybe a month, and others for as long as it's in them. I do not like this birth control at all. It has made me break out, gain weight, eat so much more, and I've gone through about 7 jumbo boxes of tampons."

• Lau...
• January 12, 2013

For Birth Control "Your body will either love or hate the Implanon. I had the Implanon for one and a half years, and for me, it was bad. I gained 5 kg and would go through these cycles - two weeks on, two weeks off - of non-stop bleeding, mood swings that nearly altered my personality, and a huge increase in anxiety. I actually thought I was mentally unwell, and my doctor was so reluctant to take it out, over and over again convincing me to keep it in. But then I insisted on switching to Yaz, which worked beautifully with my body - I am myself again, losing weight was easier (I'm back to my usual weight), and my cycle is back to normal."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2017

For Birth Control "I have had the implant since September 2016, and whilst I acknowledge that it is one of, if not the most reliable methods of contraception, I am shocked at the changes it has imposed on my body. Since insertion, I have gained 2 stone with no changes in my diet or exercise, and my mental health has been particularly bad. It goes without saying that everyone's body responds differently to contraceptives, but this has not worked for me."

• Sec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2019

For Birth Control "Honestly, it's not worth it. Was on it years ago for almost the whole 3 years, went from 65 kg to 96 kg. I just got another back in 2 weeks ago after successfully losing 23 kg. In the time of having it back in, I'm almost 4 kg up ALREADY!! I crave food all day, every day, I literally cannot stop eating. It's all I want to do. I'm constantly tired, have headaches, and feel depressed because of all these symptoms. I'm so upset about my weight gain and so scared it's just going to get worse. I'm having it taken out tomorrow."

• Mar...
• June 7, 2016

For Birth Control "Everyone has different reactions to all different birth controls. I have been on the pill, and I gained weight and got depressed. Since being on Nexplanon, I have lost weight, have had no periods, and have been pregnancy-free. Instead of reading reviews, people should try things for themselves. Nexplanon has let me live the life I have wanted to. I never have to worry about taking a pill every day, and I don't have to worry about my period. This has been perfect for me."

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• March 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I had my Nexplanon put in February of 2013. I had normal periods from Feb-April and then nothing until July. Then it lasted about 10 days, which is long for me. I didn't have a period or any spotting at all until now in March 2014. It's been about a week now, so I'm curious to see how long it will last. I've gained about 5-8 pounds, but it could be other environmental factors. My acne has flared up during this period, but I've never had great skin, and it's not worse than normal. I like Nexplanon quite a bit, the rod never bothers me, and it's very convenient to not have to take a pill."

• 12y...
• March 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been using Nexplanon for 12 years with no breaks, and I'm about to receive my 5th implant. As you can probably tell from my continued commitment, I find that the pros of the implant strongly outweigh the cons. Firstly, there are side effects (like most medication). I did receive a little weight gain, I can be a little moody sometimes, and my breasts and tummy get very tender once a month, but although I have the hormonal effect of a monthly period, I very rarely (once every 3 months) receive very light bleeding/spotting. What's most important to me is that I have never had a child or been pregnant, which is the purpose of the contraception. Everyone will react differently. You know what is best for your body."

• Anonymous
• January 14, 2010

For Birth Control "I'm one of the 5% that experience all the VERY bad side effects that no one mentioned when I got the implant. I used it for 8 months after the birth of my son. It was removed 6 months ago, and now I'm having to see an endocrinologist due to the continuing hormone imbalance Implanon caused. I lost hair, gained 50 pounds, acne, facial hair, mood swings, fatigue, slept most of the time, no libido, just plain MISERABLE. Not to mention I missed out on enjoying my son's 1st year of life."

• Lex...
• May 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I was nervous about getting the Nexplanon due to the reviews on this site. I was worried about mental illness, weight gain, and acne. About a year ago, I spoke with my doctor and decided to give it a try. The process was painless, a small needle prick, but I did have some extreme bruising during the healing process. At first, I gained a little weight and had some acne, but I got into working out and washing my face more, and both subsided. I never once had mood swings or depression symptoms. Everyone reacts differently to each medication and method. Take into account everyone’s experiences, but make sure to speak with your doctor. I am very grateful I had the conversation with her and got the implant, one of the best decisions I have made."

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 6, 2018

For Birth Control "Well, I have had this implant since March, and it is now August. I am very impressed with this product. I did pills, shots, IUDs (don’t recommend at all), and none of those worked for me. I never remembered to take my pill (thank God I was single). Shots were too much of a hassle with the bone thing, and the IUD nearly fused with my uterus, causing me incredible amounts of pain. I have yet to run into any problems emotionally, and the constant bleeding only lasted a month until my body got used to it. My periods were horrible, but now they are only 3 days long and very light, with hardly any cramping at all! There are a lot of people who gain weight with this BC, but I have a good workout regimen, so I’m good. Not to mention, I think most people who try a product and it works well won’t make the effort to comment on it because they have nothing negative to say. Don’t let scary stories keep you from trying what looks best for you."

• Sed...
• August 31, 2015

For Birth Control "Nexplanon was the worst decision I ever made. I got it in October, bled for 6 months straight. Got it taken out in April. Killed my sex drive. Gained 20 pounds, which I can't get rid of. I was extremely emotional and depressed. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone. It was the worst thing I've ever done to myself."

• Amb...
• August 19, 2020

For Birth Control "So I had gotten the Nexplanon in 2013 after my first child and had it in for 5 years, never got pregnant even though it was supposed to be removed at 3 years. Only problem I had was mood swings and no period. Just occasionally, every 6 months or so, I would have one. Soon as I got it removed, I got pregnant the next day. After my second child, I decided I wanted it again. Worst mistake of my life. In 2019, I got it put in because I was having severe pain from cysts, so I knew getting birth control would definitely help. Well, I haven't had a problem with that. Now I have severe mood swings, gained 50 pounds, tried everything to lose it and nothing. Severe UTI I've been battling for 4 months now that won't go away. Bacterial vaginosis, and I don't even have sex anymore as my sex drive went completely out the window. I get the sweats, I'm so fatigued, I get major headaches. I thought it was worth it, and now after years of everyone telling me I need it taken out and don't go back to it because of how off I am: the depression and anxiety."

• ely...
• November 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I got Nexplanon inserted in Feb 2015. At first, I didn't have any problems with it. I was spotting unexpectedly, but I didn't really find that a huge issue. Now we are in November: 9 months later, and I hate my life. I am always upset, angry, depressed, bitchy, unhappy, etc. Everything bothers me. I have put on some weight, but I'm not sure if it's the lack of exercise or the birth control. I am always tired. I have a toddler, which can explain the exhaustion, but even if I get a good night's sleep, I am always sleepy and tired and don't want to do anything. The worst side effect thus far has been my sex drive. It's on the floor. It's ruining my relationship and my life. This Nexplanon is a devil from the grips of Dante's Inferno."