Having the contraceptive implant fitted
A nurse or doctor will fit the contraceptive implant under the skin of your arm. It takes a few minutes.
The nurse or doctor will:
- use a local anaesthetic injection or spray so you will not feel pain
- make a small cut in the skin of your upper arm
- put the implant under your skin – it’s about the size of a matchstick and will not be visible once fitted
- seal the cut with a dressing, which you can remove once the cut has healed
The implant works for 3 years and then needs to be replaced with a new one.
If there’s a chance you may be pregnant, the doctor or nurse will ask you to do a pregnancy test just before having the implant.
How well does the contraceptive implant work?
The contraceptive implant is over 99% effective. Less than 1 in 100 women who use it for a year will get pregnant.
The implant will protect against pregnancy immediately if it’s fitted during the first 5 days of your menstrual cycle. The first day of your period is day 1 of your menstrual cycle.
If the implant is fitted after day 5 of your menstrual cycle, you will not be protected against pregnancy immediately. You’ll need to use another form of contraception such as condoms until you’ve had the implant in for 7 days.
The contraceptive implant needs to be replaced after 3 years because it becomes less effective at preventing pregnancy.
Emergency contraception
If it’s not replaced it stops working and there’s a chance you could get pregnant.
If this happens, you may need emergency contraception. Speak to a pharmacist, sexual health clinic, GP or call 111 for advice, as the contraceptive implant can make some emergency contraception less effective.
Getting the implant removed
You can ask for the contraceptive implant to be removed at any time. To do this you can contact a sexual health clinic, GP surgery or young people’s service.
You do not need to contact the same clinic or service that put the implant in.
Getting the implant removed is very similar to having it put in.
A doctor or nurse will use a local anaesthetic for pain relief. A small cut is made in your arm, the implant is removed and the cut is sealed with a dressing.
Important
It’s possible to get pregnant soon after a contraceptive implant is removed.
If you do not want to get pregnant, use another method of contraception, such as condoms, as soon as your implant is removed.
If you need emergency contraception talk to a pharmacist, sexual health clinic, GP or call 111 for advice, as the implant can affect how some emergency contraception works.
Getting the contraceptive implant replaced
You should make an appointment to get the implant replaced 3 years after you have it fitted. You can do this by contacting a sexual health clinic, GP surgery or young people’s service.
A doctor or nurse can remove the implant and can put a new one in at the same appointment.