Birth Control: Implanon

While I was still pregnant with Maddox, my Healthy Family's councilor went over a birth control pamphlet with me and introduced the Implanon.
I was very interested and immediately did my own research.

Implanon:
        is a newer birth control implant, receiving FDA-approval in July 2006. This contraceptive implant is a thin rod, 40 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter -- about the size of a cardboard matchstick. It's made from a flexible plastic and is inserted just under the skin on the inner side of your upper arm. Implanon is a progestin-only method and provides about 3 years of pregnancy protection. Insertion requires a local anesthetic and only takes a few minutes. The implant can also be removed anytime before the 3 years are up. Implanon does not contain latex or silicone and will not dissolve, so it must be removed.

                                                                 Isn't the box cute?

How Implanon Works:

        Implanon continually releases a low dose of etonogestrel (a progestin) to protect against pregnancy for up to 3 years. It contains 68 milligrams of etonogestrel, released over the 3-year period; about 60 to 70 micrograms per day are released in the first year, and the amount decreases over time. After the third year, Implanon will still release some hormone, but it will not be enough to prevent pregnancy. Like other hormonal methods, it works by stopping ovulation, changing the cervical mucus making it harder for sperm to swim through, and thinning the uterine lining, so it is less receptive to implantation.

 Being realistic, I knew I did not want anymore kids anytime soon, therefore Ron and I decided to maintain abstinent and use a form of birth control as further precautions.

The Implanon instantly caught my eye because it co-exists with breastfeeding.

• It is a safe and highly effective birth control method
  
• A good alternative option for women who can't use estrogen-based contraceptives
  
• Provides continuous pregnancy prevention for 3 years and can be removed anytime within the 3-year period
  
• After removal, a woman’s ability to become pregnant returns quickly; some women have reported becoming pregnant within days after removal of the contraceptive implant
  
• It is a private and discreet birth control method. Nobody can tell if you are using it, and there is no packaging or other evidence of use that may embarrass some women
  
• Most women can’t see Implanon after its insertion

• It allows for continuous, long-lasting birth control without the need of a tubal ligation
  
• Convenient and hassle-free –- once inserted, you don’t have to do anything

 I went to the clinic, she cleaned my arm, put some numbing stuff on, then gave me a shot of a local anesthetic to numb the area. Within 5 minutes I was completely numb and she cleaned my arm again and inserted the Implanon through a large metal needle. It did not hurt at all. The numbing shot hurt a little bit but no more than a regular shot. I barely bruised, some people bruise really bad but not me. I had a little piece of skin left on from where the needle entered my arm,  but it turned into a scab and is already fully healed.
The video makes it all look much worse than it actually is! Its painless and carefree!


 So far, I am happy with it! I got it while I was on my first period and I am still spotting brown older blood. Whether this is just because it's my first period since prior to being pregnant or because of the Implanon I am not sure. But besides that I am totally satisfied. I just love not having to care about birth control. Its in there and done for 3 years.

Why I did not choose any other form of birth control;

The Pill is the least effective form of birth control. It is also very sensitive. If you miss one day it messes everything up, hence, how Maddox got here ;) It also causes a lot of the similar side effects as the Depo shot which I will post below.

Mirena/Nuva Ring/Any type of Vaginal IUD I am just not comfortable with and heard horror stories about them. I don't really like the idea of something foreign in my vagina. It just seems unnatural and dangerous. and it is. Mirena can cause really bad problems and life threatening infections. So I just decided to stay away from all that. The Nuva Ring just sounded weird too. I would feel weird having it up there and unsure if its in or how to use it and all.

The Depo Shot is a sickening amount of hormones being released into your body. Enough to last you three months all at once! It also makes you gain weight, decreases your fertility,
Causes you to lose bone density. Usually causes irregular bleeding. You have to get it every three months.
 It can abort or cause birth defects if you are pregnant. Many women also experience change in sex drive, appetite, depression, nausea, head ache, hair loss, increased body and facial hair, and tender breasts. It also puts you at high risk of having an Ectopic pregnancy. So basically the shot sucks. A lot of people say they love it but they don't really know what its doing to them on the inside and what their body will be like in the future.

Those are the most popular forms of birth control. All the other forms like the patch, spermicides, diaphragm, cervical cap, contraceptive sponge etc. I thought all just sounded crazy and some unsafe and ineffective so I didn't even really look into them or even question them.

So yeah, I would HIGHLY recommend the Implanon. It seems like the most obvious and safe choice!
Here is the video of me getting the Implanon inserted. Don't be afraid! It looks FAR more worse than it feels and the long term outcome is perfect!

You can feel it underneath your skin. It just feels like a little hard line. It doesnt hurt to touch it at all. You cant see it but you can feel it.

Babies are great, beautiful, miracles but sometimes we arent ready for them or just don't want one. So to help prevent unplanned pregnancy, abstinence is the best option but not always realistic, so birth control can help us wait to have a child until we are ready and prepared for a child ;)

(I will upload video through youtube but for some reason youtube is having tech difficulties right now but I will try to post by end of the night)



References: http://contraception.about.com/od/prescriptionoptions/p/Implanon.htm