HEALTH SERVICES

Implants

What is it?
Your clinician puts a small implant under the skin of your upper arm. It will constantly release small amounts of hormone similar to the progesterone made by a woman’s ovaries to prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation) and thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from joining egg.

How effective is it?
99.9%

Upside

• Can be used by women who can’t take estrogen

• Nothing has to be put in place before vaginal intercourse

• Can be used while breastfeeding

• Gives continuous long-lasting birth control without sterilization

• No pill to take daily

• Ability to become pregnant returns quickly when use is stopped

Downside

• Irregular bleeding patterns

• Headache

• Nausea

• Dizziness

• Sore breasts

• Acne, skin rash, change in appetite, weight gain, depression, hair loss or increased hair on the face or body, nervousness, change in sex drive, and cysts on the ovaries

• Pain at insertion site

• Discoloring or scarring of the skin over the implants

• Risks of minor surgery

• Removal is sometimes difficult