Nexplanon and PCOS

[BlackandGold]

Hi, I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with PCOS 2 years ago when I came off of the combined contraceptive pill (Levest) and didn't have a period for 6 months. I haven't been on birth control since Summer 2017 and at the time not being on birth control suited me as I wasn't having sexual intercourse.

My dilemma is I am now in a relationship and although I would like to have children in the future, I am not ready now. I want to go on birth control to be safe. However, I'm not sure if this will negatively impact my chances of conceiving in the future.

I have an appointment booked to get the implant (Nexplanon) at the end of the month but I'm starting to have doubts about it, after conversations with my mum and boyfriend, who both think it's a bad idea.

Has anyone used the implant (Nexplanon) as birth control?

What were your experiences with it?

Can you direct me to any resources you found useful when making your decision?

My fear is that I go ahead with it, to later regret it down the line when I'm ready to have children.

Thank you x

[asbayford]

My sister had the implant, as soon as she had it taken out she went onto have 4 children x

[BlackandGold in reply to asbayford]

Hey, thanks for reply

Just wanted to know, does your sister have PCOS ?

[Eliz129]

I have pcos, which was diagnosed in 2015/16, I have been in relationship for 8 years now. I went onto the pill when I started my relationship, but would forgot to take the pill sometimes weeks at time, never fall pregnant. so I decided four years ago I would get the implant. At the time I was about 18stone, so the implant stop my periods completely which was good for me as they could very painful. So after the three years of having implant it was time to get it changed, that was last Xmas. At the time of getting it changed I had started to lose weight through diet and exercise, at time of writing this, I have now lost 3 and half stone. Within this year my periods have come back bleeding for 4 weeks or more at time then missing a month, my nurse can’t understand why this happening , as the implant is not suppose to work as effectively when you are over weight, what I mean by this periods will be irregular but still keep you protected from getting pregnant , but this as gone the other way for me, so I am now getting implant taking out just under year after it was put in

[BlackandGold in reply to Eliz129]

Thank you for replying!

I'm so unsure of what to do, I think I may book an appointment with my GP for more information. I know the only thing is they can only do trial and error, as you mentioned since everyone reacts differently.

[Eliz129 in reply to BlackandGold]

The implant is known for being unpredictable, like I said the first three years were great, didn’t have any side effects, but this year as been nightmare, my nurse as said not to go any contraception until they figure out, what the problem is, if you do get it try persevere with it, it does take time to settle in

[BlackandGold in reply to Eliz129]

Thank you so much, you have helped a lot

[Hols969]

No it improves your chances of conceiving if you go on the combined pill as your body will be less pcos when you come off it. Implant is awful from a pcos point of view so avoid, I know lots of ladies whose symptoms have got worse on it. Combined pill (I was on Yasmin) masks all the symtoms, take 3 months on the trot as well as it reduces all the symptoms further and is fine to do.

[BlackandGold in reply to Hols969]

I was previously on the combined pill (Levest) and I had bad side effects. I gained a lot of weight and had terrible mood swings. Then when I came off it, I didn't have a period for 6 months and I lost the majority of the weight without trying. So when the doctor suggested the pill I declined. So understandably I'm a bit skeptical of it.

[Hols969 in reply to BlackandGold]

You shouldn’t put on weight with it so that one wasn’t right for you, I don’t know much about that pill - I tried dianette Yasmin and marvelon and Yasmin was the one that suited me best