Procedures

If you are wondering about getting a Nexplanon implant but are unsure what it involves, you may be happy to know that the procedure is simple, fast, and virtually painless. Within no more than one week after you have the implant, you will be protected against becoming pregnant for up to three years. It is over 99% effective, and you never have to remember to take a pill or worry about doing anything else to prevent pregnancy.

How Is Nexplanon Inserted?

You will begin the process by scheduling an initial appointment with your healthcare provider. During that appointment, your healthcare provider will do a physical examination and review your medical history with you to make sure the Nexplanon implant is safe for you. During that appointment, your healthcare provider will describe the Nexplanon insertion procedure, explain how it works, and answer any questions you may have about it. Once implanted, it will release a small amount of a progestin hormone each day. The hormone is estrogen-free, and it prevents pregnancy in three ways: 1) by stopping you from ovulating, 2) by thickening the mucus in your cervix so that sperm cannot reach an egg, and 3) by changing your uterine lining to prevent any fertilized egg from attaching itself to your uterus.

You will also be asked to give a urine sample to ensure that you are not pregnant. Nexplanon cannot be used if you are pregnant. If you are taking any prescription or over the counter medicines, your healthcare provider will need to know about it. Some medications and supplements can impair the effectiveness of Nexplanon, and you may have to cease using those substances before getting Nexplanon. After completing your initial appointment, you will be ready for the implant procedure.

The Steps in the Nexplanon Insertion Procedure

The Nexplanon insertion procedure is done by a healthcare provider who has been specially trained to do it. The Nexplanon implant device will be placed discreetly under the skin on the inside of your upper arm. The procedure is a simple, minor surgical procedure that takes only minutes to complete.

Patient Is Numbed

First, your healthcare provider will inject Lidocaine under your skin in the area on your arm where the device will be implanted. The Lidocaine will numb the area so that you will not feel any pain during the implant procedure. When the Lidocaine is first injected, you may experience stinging and tingling on your skin, which will subside quickly.

Implant Is Guided in By an Applicator

Once you are properly numb, your healthcare provider will use a specially designed applicator to insert the implant. The applicator helps to ensure that the implant is placed in the correct location in your arm. The applicator is designed to position the implant correctly, just under your skin where it will be most effective.
Once the device is implanted, you will be asked to touch it to confirm that it is in position.

What to Expect After the Nexplanon Insertion?

For 24 hours after the Nexplanon insertion procedure, you will wear a pressure bandage to cover the implant site on your arm. You will then wear a band-aid for three to five days after that.

Mild Soreness and Healing

You may experience bruising and soreness after the Nexplanon insertion procedure. These symptoms will subside in a few days. After that, you will be able to feel the implant under your skin if you touch the area; otherwise, you will not know the implant is there.

Possible Side Effects

Some women experience side effects from the Nexplanon implant. The most common side effects are its effects on your menstrual cycle. Many women with Nexplanon experience irregular bleeding. Others will have no period at all while using the device. For women who experience problematic bleeding with Nexplanon, the device can be easily removed and a different birth control option utilized.

Other side effects that you may experience after a Nexplanon insertion procedure are similar to the pill or a hormonal IUD. Not every woman will experience all of these side effects and some women report having very few or very mild side effects. They can include moodiness, tenderness in the breasts, bloating, headaches, nausea, and modest weight gain.

Contact the Specialists at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness to Schedule Your Appointment for Nexplanon Insertion Procedure

To schedule an appointment for a Nexplanon implant, contact the experts at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness. They are available to explain how Nexplanon works, describe the many benefits it offers, and answer any questions you may have about it.

Your IUD can be removed whenever you are ready to become pregnant. Once it is removed, you may be immediately fertile. How fertile are you after IUD removal and how quickly you can become pregnant depends on the type of device you have, but in most cases, you are fertile enough to become pregnant within the same month the IUD is removed.

The IUD Removal Process

IUD removal is a simple and quick procedure, but it must be done by your doctor. (If you to remove it yourself, you run the risk of seriously injuring your pelvic organs). No matter what type of IUD you have, you can have it removed at any time. A non-hormonal copper device should be removed after ten years. Hormonal devices have an expiration period that ranges from three to six years. With such a device, you must have it removed upon its expiration. Delaying its removal can complicate the removal process and can leave you unprotected against pregnancy. Leaving an IUD in past its expiration can also create serious health risks for you, such as an increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy, which can result if you become pregnant with an IUD in place.

Your first step in having an IUD removed is to consult with your doctor and schedule an appointment to have it removed. Removal can be done at any time of the month in your cycle. No drugs or anesthesia are needed. Removal is faster and easier than having the IUD inserted.

During the removal procedure, you will lie down on the exam table like you would for a pelvic examination..To remove the IUD, your doctor will insert a speculum and find the IUD strings that hang into your vagina. If needed, your doctor may use a small brush or tool to coax the strings into view.
Once the strings are located, your doctor will use forceps to grasp the strings and pull the IUD gently down through your cervix, through your vagina, and out of your body. You likely will feel a little cramping as it passes through your cervix.

How It Affects Fertility

Whether you used a hormonal IUD or a copper IUD, your body’s natural fertility is not affected by the removal procedure. Once your IUD is removed, your menstrual cycle will typically return to normal within a month. It will not be long afterward that you are able to become pregnant.

Fertility Depends on the Type of Contraceptive Device Used

Whichever type of IUD you have, you can consult with your doctor about scheduling an IUD removal procedure at a time in your cycle that will enhance your chances of getting pregnant. Your doctor may recommend that you wait for a cycle or two before you try to get pregnant so that you can pinpoint with better accuracy the date of conception. The removal process may cause minor bleeding and spotting for a couple of days and you may have some difficulty identifying where you are in your menstrual cycle as a result.

Copper IUD
A copper IUD does not use hormones to prevent pregnancy. Copper IUDs work because the copper creates a hostile environment in your uterus for sperm. Your normal menstrual cycle was not affected by a copper IUD; thus, your body does not need any time to return to its normal cycle. Pregnancy can occur immediately upon its removal.

Hormonal IUD
With a hormonal IUD, pregnancy was prevented by releasing progestin hormones into your body. Depending on the type of hormonal IUD you used, the hormones affect your normal menstrual cycle by impairing your body’s ability to release a fertile egg. Removing the IUD also removes the hormones that prevent pregnancy. It is therefore possible for you to get pregnant in the first cycle you have without the IUD. In some cases, however, your body may need a week or two to resume its normal cycle before you can become fertile.

Infertility Is Caused by Scarring

Infertility is not caused by the IUD or the removal process. Instead, infertility is caused by disease or infections of the organs and tissues in your pelvic region and the scarring that if often leaves behind. Absent those conditions, your ability to get pregnant after using an IUD is the same as it was before your IUD.

Notwithstanding your immediate fertility, some doctors recommend their patients wait for a cycle or two after IUD removal before trying to conceive. By waiting, it is easier to track your cycle and determine the exact date of conception.

Contact the Experts at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness for more information about IUD Removal

When you are ready to have your IUD removed, contact the specialists at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness to schedule an appointment. They are available to answer your questions about what to expect after removal, how to protect your reproductive health, and help you with your goal of getting pregnant.

Your IUD can protect you against unwanted pregnancy for up to ten years, depending on the device you have. When you want to become pregnant, you need to have your IUD removed. You can have it removed at any time. Once it is removed, you may be able to get pregnant within the same month. How long does it take to get pregnant after IUD removal depends on the type of device you have and where you are in your monthly cycle.

The IUD Removal Process

The process for removing an IUD is simple and takes less than 2 minutes in most cases. Nonetheless, the procedure must be done by your doctor. If you try to remove it yourself, you run the risk of seriously injuring your pelvic organs.

Regardless of what type of IUD you have, you can have it removed at any time. It is important to have your IUD removed upon its expiration. Delaying its removal can complicate the removal process, can leave you unprotected against pregnancy, and can create some health risks to you. One very serious risk is that of an ectopic pregnancy, which can result if you become pregnant with an IUD in place.IUDs can be removed any time prior to the expiration if you wish to become pregnant or to change your birth control method.

To have your IUD removed, you need to first schedule an appointment with your doctor for the removal procedure. It doesn’t matter where you are in your cycle– you can have it removed any time of the month. No drugs or anesthesia are needed. It is faster and easier than having the IUD inserted. However, if you are prone to cramping or pain during your periods, you may want to take an over the counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or naproxen one to two hours ahead of time.

To begin the removal procedure, your doctor will first insert a speculum into your vagina and find the IUD strings. In some patients, the doctor will need to use a small brush or tool to coax the strings into view. Occasionally, the doctor will need to dilate the patient’s cervical canal to enable the removal.

Once the IUD strings are located, your doctor will grasp them using forceps, then gently pull the IUD down through your cervix. You may feel some cramping as it passes through your cervix, then through your vagina, and out of your body.

How Removal Affects Fertility

The removal procedure has no effect on your body’s fertility. Whether you used a hormonal IUD or a copper IUD, your menstrual cycle will return to normal within a few weeks. You become fertile immediately and can get pregnant when you next ovulate. If you are infertile, it is not due to the IUD or the IUD removal procedure. Infertility can be caused by disease or infections of the organs and tissues in your pelvic region and the scarring that if often leaves behind. Absent those conditions, your ability to get pregnant after using an IUD is the same as it was before your IUD.

Notwithstanding your immediate fertility, some doctors recommend their patients wait for a cycle or two after IUD removal before trying to conceive. By waiting, it is easier to track your cycle and determine the exact date of conception.

How Soon You Become Fertile Depends On Type Of IUD Used

Whether you are immediately fertile or not, how quickly you can become pregnant depends on the type of device you used.

Non-Hormonal IUD
After the removal of a non-hormonal, or copper IUD, your body will not need time to return to a normal cycle. The copper IUD did not use hormones to boost its effectiveness. Without those hormones, your body’s cycle was not affected by the IUD. Thus, you are immediately fertile. You may experience minor spotting and bleeding which can interfere with accurately timing the beginning and end of your cycle, but it has no impact on your fertility.

Hormonal IUD
Unlike the copper IUD, the hormonal IUD releases progestin hormones into your uterus Those hormones may temporarily interfere with the production of your cervical mucus and your body’s ability to release an egg. Therefore, how quickly you become fertile depends on the type of IUD you used, the amount of hormones it used, and the timing of the removal in your cycle. You may be fertile immediately, or it may take a week or two to become fertile. In most cases, you can become pregnant in the first cycle after removal.

Contact Raleigh Gynecology And Wellness For More Info On How Long Does It Take To Get Pregnant After IUD Removal

When you are ready to have an IUD removed so you can get pregnant, you need to consult with your doctor and get help planning the removal. With a little planning, you will improve your chances of getting pregnant right away. The professionals at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness are available to answer your questions and schedule an appointment for you.

One of the most effective and convenient forms of birth control is the Nexplanon implant. Learn why it has become so popular among women looking for a safe and reliable way to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

The Nexplanon Arm Implant

The Nexplanon implant is a small, flexible plastic rod that measures (about 1.5 inches long). Using a specially designed applicator, your doctor will insert it under the skin in your upper non-dominant arm. The procedure takes less than a minute or two to complete.

The implant contains the progestin hormone called etonogestrel. Etonogestrel is a hormone that is similar to a natural hormone made in your body. The implant releases enough hormone into your body each day to prevent pregnancy.

Before you get Nexplanon implanted, your doctor will perform a pregnancy test to ensure you are not pregnant.

Average Time For Nexplanon

The Nexplanon implant provides effective contraception for three to four years.

Why Do Women Choose Nexplanon?

There are many reasons why Nexplanon has become a leading choice of women seeking a convenient form of birth control. Chief among them include:

Great Long Term Protection

Depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle when you get the implant, it provides protection beginning either immediately or within a week of the date of insertion.

Nexplanon remains effective for three to four years. You will want to keep track of the scheduled removal date and make an appointment with your doctor to remove it just before the expiration date. Once it expires, it no longer protects against pregnancy. To continue having effective birth control, you can have a new Nexplanon device implanted or begin using another form of birth control.

More Than 99% Effective

The Nexplanon implant is more than 99% effective, which means that your chances of getting pregnant are less than one in 100.

You Can Never Forget To Use It

Once you have the implant, you will not have to worry about it again. You need do nothing further until it expires. You do not have to remember to take a pill, insert a ring, or worry about an IUD fitting.

Most Women Experience Lighter Periods

The hormone in the Nexplanon implant can cause your periods to be lighter and shorter. In fact, one out of three women stop getting periods at all after being on the implant for one year. The implant also reduces the intensity of your period cramps.

Private And Discreet

No one but you and your doctor will know you have the implant. You may be able to feel the implant faintly under your skin, but your partner will never know it’s there.

You Can Have It Removed At Any Time

If you change your mind and want to become pregnant before the implant expires, you can make an appointment with your doctor to have the implant removed. Depending upon where you are in your menstrual cycle when you have it removed, you can become fertile immediately. The Nexplanon implant will not affect your fertility or make it harder for you to get pregnant in the future.

Nexplanon Is Estrogen-Free

Nexplanon contains only the single hormone etonogestrel, which does not include estrogen. If you are one of many women who cannot use estrogen due to certain health problems, you may be able to use the Nexplanon implant safely.

Safe To Use

Nexplanon is proven safe for many women, even those who are nursing. However, your doctor may recommend a different birth control option if you have a history of blood clots, liver disease, unexplained vaginal bleeding, or progestin-sensitive breast cancer.

Also, if you are taking any medications or herbal supplements, some may make Nexplanon less effective. Your doctor will want to know about anything you are taking such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal supplements.

How The Nexplanon Implant Prevents Pregnancy

The implant releases a small amount of hormone into your body each day. It prevents pregnancy in three ways: 1) it stops your ovaries from releasing one of your eggs, 2) it thickens the mucus of your cervix to help prevent any sperm from reaching an egg, and 3) it changes the lining of your uterus to prevent attachment by a fertilized egg.

For More Information About The Nexplanon Implant, Contact Our Experienced Team At Raleigh Gynecology And Wellness

If the benefits of using the Nexplanon implant seem appealing and you would like to know if it would work for you, contact the specialists at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness. They are available to answer your questions about the implant and discuss any other birth control options with you. Contact them for more information and to schedule an appointment.

For reliable and convenient birth control, a Nexplanon implant should be an option at the top of your list. It is 99% effective, which means fewer than one out of 100 women who use Nexplanon will get pregnant each year. It is completely reversible, so if you decide you’d like to get pregnant during that time, you can simply have the implant removed.

What Type of Birth Control Option Is Nexplanon?

A Nexplanon implant is a flexible plastic rod about 1.5 inches long. It resembles a matchstick in overall size.

Nexplanon has to be implanted by a trained doctor or nurse. Your doctor will use a disposable sterile inserter to implant the device under the skin of your non-dominant upper arm. The implant works by releasing a progestin hormone called etonogestrel into your body over a 3-year period. Etonogestrel is a hormone that is similar to a natural hormone made in your body. It is used in other hormonal birth control devices such as vaginal rings and hormonal IUDs.

Hormonal Birth Control

Nexplanon is implanted in your arm. The Nexplanon device is impregnated with 68 mg of etonogestrel. The plastic copolymer of Nexplanon allows controlled release of the hormone over the three-year period.

How the Hormones Work in Nexplanon

If you get a Nexplanon implant during the first five days of your period, it is immediately effective at preventing you from becoming pregnant. If you get the implant at any other time in your cycle, you will need to use another form of birth control for the first week. After that, the implant becomes effective at protecting you from pregnancy for up to three years.

After the first year, the etonogestrel levels decrease slightly. The levels continue to decrease through the third year, but it remains above the threshold level necessary to prevent pregnancy.

The hormones in Nexplanon prevent pregnancy in three ways: 1) it stops your ovaries from releasing one of your eggs, 2) it thickens the mucus of your cervix so sperm cannot swim through it and reach an egg, and 3) it changes the lining of your uterus to prevent attachment by a fertilized egg.

If you have the device removed during the three-year period, most women become fertile within one week and resume regular menstrual cycles within six weeks.

Potential Side Effects

The implant may cause side effects for some women. In most cases, the side effects subside after a few months. Some of the most common side effects include:

Spotting

The most common side effect is spotting. You may have light bleeding or brown discharge in the first six to twelve months.

Longer or Shorter Bleeding During Period

Some women have long-term spotting or periods that are longer and heavier. For most women, however, the implant causes them to have lighter than usual periods. They also experience reduced cramping.

No Bleeding at All

In some cases, women stop getting their periods with the Nexplanon implant.

Varied Amount of Time Between Periods

For women who continue to have their periods, some experience irregular periods. The amount of time in between their periods varies.

Health Risks

Nexplanon implants are very safe for most women. Serious problems with Nexplanon are rare. More commonly, you may experience arm pain that lasts for longer than a few days, an infection in the arm resulting from the implant procedure, or a small scar on your arm where the implant was inserted. Occasionally, the implant can break and must be replaced, or slip out of place and require a surgical procedure to have it removed.

Women who are pregnant should not use Nexplanon. Your doctor will likely perform a pregnancy test on you before giving you a Nexplanon implant. However, women who are nursing can use Nexplanon without presenting a health risk to the infant.

Also, women with certain pre-existing medical conditions should have a full consultation with their doctors before getting the Nexplanon implant. For example, women who have had breast cancer, for example, should not use Nexplanon. Additionally, women with heart disease, cancer in the liver or kidneys, and certain other health disorders should discuss the risks associated with using a Nexplanon implant with their doctor. Such women may be better suited using another form of contraceptive.

Work with the Experts at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness

A Nexplanon implant is effective and convenient; its cost is covered by most health insurance plans, Medicaid, and some government programs. Talk to the professionals at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness about Nexplanon implants and other forms of birth control that may be ideal for you. They are available to answer your questions and schedule an appointment.