Mild discomfort and bruising are common following the fitting or replacement of a contraceptive implant. Simple painkillers or an ice pack can help. Your wound will be covered with a wound dressing and may also have been closed with Steri-Strips® (paper stitches). They need to stay clean and dry. When you have a wash or a shower, you could wrap some cling film around your arm to protect the dressing from water. The wound dressings can be taken off after 3-5 days.
You may notice some bruising on your arm when you remove the dressing. It will clear up within a few days.
Contraceptive Effectiveness
If fitted in the first 5 days of your period or immediately after another implant/hormonal method removal, it’s effective right away. If not, use condoms or avoid sex for 7 days.
When to seek medical advice
Serious side effects or complications are very rare .
You should seek medical advice if your wound becomes red, inflamed, increasingly painful, and persistently itchy or oozing fluid; or you cannot feel your implant after its placement.
Irregular vaginal bleeding is a frequent side effect of the implant and might settle with time. If you develop vaginal bleeding which is prolonged or is concerning you, or you get other problematic symptoms which you think might be due to side effects of the implant, especially if they last longer than 3 months. Although irregular bleeding is common on the “rod” other causes need to be excluded, including STIs, if appropriate, or changes at your neck of womb (cervix).
If you start any new medications or herbal supplements (like St. John’s Wort) please check if they could affect the implant.
Removal or replacement
It is your responsibility to arrange the removal or replacement of your implant when it is due to expire in 3 years. The date when your implant needs to be replaced to provide contraception will be put on a reminder card for you to keep. Please keep the card in a safe place. If you lose the card, give us a call and we will check the expiry date for you.