Hormonal Methods of Family Planning 213
Implants (Jadelle, Implanon)
Implants are small, soft tubes that are placed under the skin on
the inside of a woman’s arm. These tubes contain the hormone
progestin and work like mini pills. They prevent pregnancy for 3 to
5 years, depending on the type of implant.
How to use implants:
A trained health worker makes a small
cut in the skin to insert and remove the
implants. This is usually done at a
clinic or family planning center.
IMPORTANT Before trying implants, be sure a health worker
near you is trained and willing to remove the implants, in case you
want them removed. It is harder to take implants out than it is to
put them in.
Implants can be used by women who are breastfeeding and
others who have problems with estrogen. Women should not use
implants if they have any of the conditions described on page 207,
if they have heart disease, or if they want to become pregnant in
the next few years. If you are taking medicines for seizures, you
will need to use a backup method, like a condom or a diaphragm,
as well as the implants.
Common side effects of implants:
During the first months, the implants may cause irregular
bleeding (in the middle of your monthly cycle) or more days
of monthly bleeding. Or you may have no bleeding at all. This
does not mean that you are pregnant or that something is wrong.
These changes will go away as your body becomes used to
having more progestin. If this irregular bleeding causes problems
for you, a health worker may have you take low-dose combined
birth control pills along with the implants for a few months.
You may also have occasional headaches and the same side
effects common with progestin-only injections (see page 214).
To stop using implants:
Implants can be removed at any time—though it can be hard
to find a health worker who knows how to remove them. After
removal, you can get pregnant right away, so use another family
planning method if you do not want to become pregnant.
➤ Many women
want their implants
removed early
because they do not
like the side effects.
The most common
concern is irregular
bleeding.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012