The Nexplanon birth control implant is now FDA-approved for 5 years

On January 23, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Nexplanon, the birth control implant, for up to five years of use, instead of three. Research has shown it works that long, and now the label officially matches the science. That means you get more time and fewer procedures with the same super-effective birth control.

Keep reading for the full breakdown on this important update.

What is Nexplanon?

Nexplanon is a birth control method that works really well to prevent pregnancy (we’re talking over 99 percent effective), and it’s also very low maintenance: Once it’s placed, you don’t have to do anything else for it to do its job (beyond seeing a provider whenever you want to remove it). You might have heard of Nexplanon referred to as an implant or a LARC (long-acting reversible contraceptive).

It’s a small, flexible rod that a health care provider places under the skin of your upper arm. The implant slowly releases a small amount of hormone called etonogestrel (a form of progestin), which helps prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping ovulation (no egg gets released) and thickening cervical mucus (making it harder for sperm to swim).

Wait, wasn’t Nexplanon already good for 5 years?

For years, many health care providers were already telling patients that Nexplanon is effective for up to five years, even though the official label said three. That advice was based on strong research showing the implant continued to prevent pregnancy well beyond year three.

What’s changed now is that the FDA has officially updated the label to reflect that evidence. So while you may continue to use the implant the same way, the updated labeling is important because it affects things like clinical guidelines, insurance coverage, and consistency in prescribing.

Does Nexplanon actually still work in years 4 and 5?

Yup! In the studies the FDA looked at, zero pregnancies showed up in years four and five. That’s a big deal, because it shows the implant continues to work just as well even after the three-year mark. Overall, the implant is over 99 percent effective from day one through year 5.

So is Nexplanon still as safe in years 4 and 5?

Yes! In research, the implant’s safety profile, meaning its side effects and how it affects your body, didn’t really change during the extended years. The kinds of things people experienced, like changes in bleeding, were similar to what was already known about the first three years of use.

And importantly, the research included people with a wide range of body types, making the results more reflective of the diverse people who actually use Nexplanon in real life.

If I’m already using Nexplanon, is the implant I have good for 5 years, too?

If you already have Nexplanon, the implant you have is good for five years from the date your implant was placed. Nothing about the implant itself has changed, so you don’t need a new or different one. It’s the same one, just officially cleared to last longer.

The bottom line

This update by the FDA gives folks who choose Nexplanon a little more time and flexibility, making it a win for those who like low-maintenance birth control and want fewer procedures.