Contraceptive implant
The contraceptive implant (Nexplanon) is a small, flexible plastic rod.
If implanted correctly, it is over 99% effective. Fewer than 1 in 1,000 people who use the implant as contraception for 3 years will become pregnant.
A doctor or nurse inserts it under the skin of your upper arm to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Contraceptive implant.
How the implant works.
The implant prevents pregnancy by releasing progestin, which:
It prevents you from releasing an egg (ovulation),
makes it difficult for sperm to reach an egg,
and thins the lining of the uterus, so there's less chance of an egg attaching to it.
When does it work?
You can have the implant inserted at any time during your menstrual cycle, as long as you're not pregnant.
If you insert it during the first 5 days of your menstrual cycle, you will be protected against pregnancy.
If it is inserted on any other day of your menstrual cycle, you must use an additional contraceptive method, such as condoms, for 7 days.
After childbirth,
you can have the contraceptive implant inserted at any time after you have given birth.
If it is inserted before the 21st day after delivery, or the day before, you will be protected against pregnancy.
If it is inserted after day 21, you will need to use an additional contraceptive method, such as condoms, for 7 days.
It is safe to use the implant while breastfeeding.
After a miscarriage or
abortion, the implant can be inserted immediately. You will be protected against pregnancy instantly.
How is the contraceptive implant inserted or removed?
Local anesthesia is used to numb the area on the inside of the arm.
The implant is inserted under the skin. Insertion takes only a few minutes and feels like an injection. No stitches are needed after insertion. It works for 3 years before needing to be replaced. You can use the contraceptive implant until menopause.
The implant can be removed at any time by a doctor or nurse. Removal only takes a few minutes and will be done under local anesthesia. The doctor or nurse will make a small incision in the skin to remove the implant.
Once the contraceptive implant is removed, you will no longer be protected against pregnancy.
The implant is usually removed at the medical center or clinic where it was inserted. If this is not the case, your primary care physician or sexual health service can advise you on where implant removal is performed in your area.
Who can use the implant?
Most women can use the contraceptive implant; however, it may not be suitable for some. Your doctor or nurse will discuss this with you.
You should not use the implant if:
You don't want your periods to change;
you take other medications that can affect the implant;
you have unexplained bleeding between periods or after sex;
you have severe liver disease;
you have breast cancer or have had it in the past;
you have a medical condition that can affect which contraceptive you can use – talk to your doctor or nurse about this.
What if I'm taking other medications?
Some medications can prevent the implant from working.
These include:
HIV medications,
epilepsy medications
, complementary remedies such as St. John's wort
, and some antibiotics like rifabutin or rifampicin.
If you are taking any of these medications, you will need an additional method of contraception. You may want to consider switching to a contraceptive method that is not affected by your medication.
If you are prescribed any medication, always inform your doctor that you are using an implant.
Side effects of the contraceptive implant.
The contraceptive implant can cause side effects. You should consider these carefully before deciding if it is right for you.
Menstrual changes:
Your period may change significantly when using a contraceptive implant. About 20% of people using the implant will not experience any bleeding, but almost 50% will have irregular or prolonged bleeding. Bleeding patterns are often irregular.
If bleeding is a problem, consult your GP, nurse or sexual health service for advice.
Other side effects
Other side effects that some people report are:
Headaches,
acne
, nausea,
breast tenderness, and
mood swings
are common side effects. These usually disappear after the first few months. If you experience prolonged or severe headaches or other side effects, consult your doctor.
Benefits of using the implant
Some benefits of the contraceptive implant are the following:
It works for 3 years,
does not interrupt sexual intercourse,
the implant is an option if you cannot use contraceptives containing estrogen, such as the combined pill, the contraceptive patch, or the vaginal ring.
You don't have to remember to take a pill every day.
It is safe to use while breastfeeding.
Your fertility should return to normal as soon as the implant is removed.
After the contraceptive implant is inserted, you should be able to resume normal activities.
Risks of the implant:
Sometimes, the area of skin where the implant has been placed can become infected. If this happens, the area will be cleaned and may be treated with antibiotics. Consult your doctor if:
you cannot feel
the implant, you feel that the implant has changed shape,
you notice any changes in your skin or feel any pain around where the implant is placed, or
you become pregnant.
Where can you get the implant?
You can get the contraceptive implant for free at:
Sexual health services
. Medical practices that provide contraception.
If you are under 16 years old.
Anyone can get contraception for free in Scotland, even if you are under 16 years old.
If you are under 16, you may be encouraged to tell your parents, but you don't have to.
The only time a professional might need to inform another person is if they believe you are at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would have to be serious. Normally, they would talk to you first.
I found a strange metallic object in my husband's pocket, and my mind immediately went to a dark place.
I was doing the laundry.
That's literally how it started.
I took my husband's pants out of the basket, checked the pockets as usual, and felt something hard at the bottom. At first, I thought it was loose change or maybe a screw from the garage. But when I pulled it out, I froze.
It didn't seem ordinary.
The object was metallic, heavy for its size, with a sharp end and a threaded base that seemed intentionally designed. It wasn't broken. It wasn't a coincidence. It had a purpose. The kind of thing that instantly makes your brain start filling in the gaps before logic even has time to kick in.
And, honestly, my imagination quickly ran wild.
I stood there in the laundry room, staring at him as every possible scenario raced through my mind. Was he involved in something dangerous? Was he connected to some secret hobby? Was there something my husband had been hiding from me?
The worst part was his reaction when I asked him about it.
He barely reacted.
He shrugged and said indifferently that he had no idea how he got there.
That should have reassured me, but somehow it had the opposite effect. His indifference made everything seem even stranger. If he didn't know what it was, why was he carrying it in his pocket? And if he did know, why was he acting so nonchalantly?
For the next hour, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
I sat there, turning the object over in my hands like a detective trying to solve a case. The metal felt cold and strangely precise, almost industrial. I kept noticing small details that made it seem even more mysterious. There was a slight scratch near the tip. The threading looked intentional. Every little detail fueled my paranoia a little more.
At a certain point, I realized that I was no longer just examining the object.
Through it, I was analyzing my entire marriage.
It's strange how the mind can construct stories from silence. Something inexplicable becomes evidence. A vague answer becomes suspicion. Privacy suddenly begins to resemble secrecy.
And the longer I sat there alone with my thoughts, the worse the stories became.
Then everything changed because of one small detail.
I held the object up to the light and noticed some faint markings engraved near the base. I squinted, trying to read them clearly, and suddenly I understood.
It was an arrowhead for archery.
A practical tip for an arrow.
It's not a weapon. It's not proof of betrayal. It's not some hidden criminal secret.
Simply a sporting item.
The whole mystery crumbled instantly.
But, interestingly, relief wasn't the first emotion I felt.
It was shameful.
Deep shame.
While I was busy concocting conspiracy theories in my head, my husband had apparently taken up a quiet hobby he never spoke about. Something peaceful. Something private. Something that probably helped him disconnect from the daily stress.
And somehow I had transformed it into proof that something terrible was happening behind my back.
Sitting there, holding that small, now harmless piece of metal, I realized how dangerous assumptions can be when fear takes over before communication.
Sometimes, the most terrifying stories are not the ones others hide from us.
They are the ones we create ourselves in secret.
An unanswered question. A strange object. A moment of silence. And suddenly, the people we love begin to seem like strangers through the prism of our own insecurity.
That little piece of advice about archery ended up teaching me something much more important than it actually was.
Trust can crumble surprisingly quickly when imagination replaces conversation.
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