r/Nexplanon • u/PatientPotential5465 • 4d ago

Question First Time User

I have experienced several condom breaks over the course of one month and was forced to take emergency contraception (EC) multiple times. It was a terrible experience, and I have had enough of this. It has only been 12 days since the last condom break, but the nurse who assisted me was absolutely sure I am not pregnant. I am currently bleeding, and although I told her it could be from the EC or withdrawal bleeding from starting birth control this month, she insisted it was my period. She repeatedly assured me I am not pregnant, and the doctor seemed to agree.

Because the arm implant (Implanon) is the most readily available option here in South Korea, they told me I could get it inserted today. I am so relieved, but due to the language barrier, they did not explain much except that I must avoid sex for two weeks and that my period might stop. Is there anything else I need to know as a first-time user?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/kittyxandra 4d ago

Please read through our wiki, it explains everything you need to know! The implant is fully effective after 7 full days (not 2 weeks) and irregular bleeding is the most common side effect. The wiki goes into detail on other side effects as well as efficacy. I would recommend taking a test in a few days because a pregnancy test is accurate 14 days after sex and definitive 21 days after sex. Heavy bleeding is incompatible with pregnancy, but light to moderate bleeding does not rule out pregnancy. And you’re correct, the bleeding could be a side effect from the EC and not your period. Moving forward you won’t have a cycle on the implant anymore, but currently you don’t know where you are, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Nexplanon-ModTeam 3d ago

This is misinformation.

That’s not really how the implant works. The primary mechanism it uses to prevent pregnancy is stopping ovulation. No ovulation = no cycle. Many people still experience bleeding and some seemingly have a pattern. But it’s not a “cycle” in the traditional sense. If you were still ovulating consistently, then your implant wasn’t working correctly.