Implant (Nexplanon)

Just like when it’s put in, your arm gets numbed before the implant is taken out. But that’s the worst part and the whole thing usually only takes a couple minutes.

You get an injection of numbing medicine through a small needle—that’s usually the worst part. Then your health care provider inserts the implant in your arm, which only takes a few minutes. That area of your arm may be sore and bruised for a couple days. Generally speaking, no big deal.

Most women who use hormonal birth control–the pill, the ring, the shot, the patch, the implant, or a hormonal IUD–will have less painful periods than those who don’t. This is because these methods of birth control make the lining of the uterus thinner. There’s less tissue in the uterus to shed, so periods are lighter. One special note on the implant and the shot: for some women, these methods cause more days of spotting or bleeding, but periods become lighter and less painful overall.

Spotting, which can happen with a bunch of different methods, doesn’t make you lose that much blood, even though it might seem like it. We have a Provider Perspective article about it if you want to learn more.