BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANTS
A birth control implant is a thin plastic implant (approximately the size of a matchstick) that is inserted under the skin of the upper arm by a medical professional. The contraceptive implant protects against pregnancy. NEXPLANON insertion is minimally invasive, in-office procedure that usually takes less than 5 minutes. A small bandage will need to worn for three to five days.
The implant contains etonogestrel (a type of progesterone), which prevents a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs while the implant is in place. The implant lasts up to three years, but may be removed at any time. To remove the implant, a health care provider will numb a small area with local anesthesia and then make a tiny incision to remove the implant.
REVERSIBLE
The implant is considered immediately reversible, so if a woman does not want to become pregnant, a method of birth control must be started immediately after removal. If she wishes, a new implant can be inserted through the removal incision to provide contraception for another three years.
Birth control implants such as Nexplanon are effective means of birth control, with less than 1 percent of women becoming pregnant using the implant per year.
