Side Effects And Risks

The contraceptive implant is very safe and serious side effects and complications are rare.

Side effects of the contraceptive implant

The contraceptive implant is very safe and serious side effects and complications are rare.

Changes to your periods

It's very common to have a change in your periods after you have an implant fitted.

You may notice your periods:

are lighter
are less regular with light bleeding (spotting) between periods
are heavier or more painful
last longer
stop completely

It's also possible for your periods to become more unpredictable, for example having a heavy period followed by a very light period, or missing a period.

These changes are not usually anything to worry about, but if they become a problem for you contact a GP or sexual health clinic.

Other reported side effects

Other reported side effects of the contraceptive implant include headache, sore breasts, weight gain, acne, and thrush or bacterial vaginosis.

There's not enough evidence to say whether these side effects are caused by the implant.

If side effects are a problem for you, contact a GP or sexual health clinic for advice.

Find out about choosing a method of contraception, including side effects and risks of different methods.

Risks of the contraceptive implant

The contraceptive implant is very safe, but there are some risks including:

infection where implant is put in - this can lead to swelling and pain at the site of the implant
the implant moving out of place, usually a few centimetres away from where it was put in

If you think you have an infection or the implant has moved out of place then contact a GP or sexual health clinic.

Rarer, more serious risks include:

a blood clot
ectopic pregnancy in the rare case that the implant fails

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

	This item was in brought to you association with NHS website. Follow the links above for more information and don't forget to check out OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health which features items on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. This week our topic is: L - Lung Cancer.
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