Nexplanon is a brand-name birth control implant that a healthcare professional inserts under the skin of your upper arm. It is very effective at preventing pregnancy for up to 3 years.
Nexplanon contains the active drug etonogestrel. Etonogestrel acts in the same way as progesterone (a hormone that your body naturally produces). It works to stop the release of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which typically triggers ovulation each month. It also affects the lining of the uterus and the thickness of cervical mucus, making pregnancy less likely to occur.
Nexplanon works to stop ovulation and, therefore, prevents fertilization from occurring. It delivers the drug through a rod-shaped implant that a doctor inserts into your upper arm, just below the skin.
Implants are among the most effective forms of birth control. You can choose to remove the implant at any time, and your fertility will return to previous levels.
This article looks at the effectiveness of Nexplanon, including how long it protects you against pregnancy.
The Nexplanon implant is one of the most effective birth control options available. According to Planned Parenthood, fewer than 1 in every 100 people with the implant will get pregnant each year. This means it is over 99% effective at preventing conception without pulling out (withdrawal).
You may find Nexplanon easier to use than other contraception methods, such as the birth control pill because you don’t have to remember to take something every day.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) indicates that the implant is more effective than other easy-to-use birth control methods, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs).
However, Nexplanon does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You will need to use a barrier method, such as condoms, to help protect you from STIs.
You are at risk of pregnancy within 1 week of Nexplanon removal. However, this is rare. One study of
Symptoms of pregnancy may include nausea with or without vomiting, severe tiredness, and bloating in your abdomen.
The Nexplanon implant may not suit everyone. You should avoid the implant if you:
- are pregnant
- have a medical history of blood clots
- have liver disease
- have breast cancer
- have unexplained genital bleeding
- are allergic to any ingredients of Nexplanon
Talk with your doctor about whether Nexplanon is the best choice for you, and ask them any other questions you may have.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nexplanon to remain in the arm for up to 3 years. Studies show that it may stay effective for
If you wish to continue with the Nexplanon implant, you will need to talk with a doctor to schedule a removal and insertion procedure.
Once the implant is in place, the healthcare professional may offer you the option of a Nexplanon user card. This will detail the date of the procedure and provide an expected replacement date. This may help remind you to arrange a replacement appointment in 3 years time.
A doctor may also help you keep track of when your implant needs replacing.
It can take up to 7 days for Nexplanon to start preventing conception. However, this depends on where you are in your cycle when a doctor inserts the implant.
If the procedure occurs within the first 5 days of your cycle, it protects you from pregnancy immediately. (For reference, day 1 of a cycle is defined as the first day of menstrual bleeding.) If a doctor inserts the implant at any other time of your cycle, you will need to take other precautions for 7 days afterward to prevent pregnancy. This may include barrier methods such as:
If you wish to remove the implant, your fertility will return to previous levels. However, if you do not want to conceive, use another form of contraception immediately after a doctor removes the implant.
Nexplanon is a prescription brand-name contraceptive implant that a doctor inserts into your upper arm. It contains the drug etonogestrel, which works in the same way as the naturally occurring hormone progesterone.
Nexplanon is over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy and, as such, is one of the most effective types of birth control available. It can take effect to prevent pregnancy immediately after insertion, but this depends on where you are in your cycle.
Once a doctor inserts the implant, you do not have to think about it daily unlike other forms of birth control. The FDA advises replacing the implant once every 3 years to ensure it remains effective.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about using Nexplanon.