My Experience with Nexplanon (Birth Control Implant)
- Vanessa Sanchez
- Mar 15, 2022
- 3 min read
I spent a big portion of my early 20's being sexually active. Prior to getting married, I was in a
long-term committed relationship but not married. My boyfriend and I were sexually active, and we were pursuing our undergraduate studies. I often worried about unintentionally getting pregnant and ending up like "my mom." This was a big fear of mine. My mother had fallen pregnant and did not want kids. She had shared this with me in my childhood. So, when I was in college, I decided I needed an100% effective birth control that did not require me to take a pill daily- I was terrible at remembering to take any medicine or vitamins daily. My gynecologist had suggested several birth control methods and I ended up picking the Nexplanon.
The procedure doesn't take long. I recall about 10 minutes or so. My gynecologist used a local

anesthetic because a small incision needs to be made to pop the implant in. The implant is placed in the interior part of the upper arm and needs to maintain dry for more than twenty-four hours while covered up. I remember having a large bruise in the area.
Some of the benefits of having the Nexplanon are:
It eliminates the burden of taking a daily birth control pill
It is 99.99% effective
It lasts up to three years
However, as much as these benefits seemed so wonderful to me, they came with several costs. I had a total of two Nexplanon's put in for a total of six years on this birth control. Here is what I experienced during it.
Weight gain- I gained a total of 30 pounds in the span of six years. This has really affected me. I am on a journey to lose weight and regain my health.
Depression- I suffered from deep depression and anxiety during the six years of Nexplanon usage. I had depressive episodes that made it difficult for me to get out of bed. I consulted a psychologist and psychiatrist and eventually started taking an anti-depressant. This depression caused me to slow down and made it difficult to enjoy my life and the relationships with those around me.
Reduced Sex Drive- My sex drive was in the depths of despair. I did not feel like having any type of sexual interaction. This could be a result of the combination of weight gain and depression, but it had a troubling effect on my marriage.
No period for months- Yep! No period for months. I was very irregular. This is a common side effect.
Headaches- I would experience headaches every month. I have never experienced headaches consistently as I did when I was on Nexplanon.
Dry vagina- I would experience dryness down there.
After spending six years on the Nexplanon, I decided to remove it and to try a natural approach for birth control. My husband and I would love to have children someday, but our plan is to have financial freedom before, God willing, welcoming a baby into the world.
If I could turn back time, I would have not been sexually active out of wedlock and I would have not chosen to get the Nexplanon. I believe that it would've saved me from the health problems that I experienced during my time with Nexplanon & persist to this day. I am currently struggling to lose the 30 pounds I gained during my Nexplanon days.
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