How Are Contraceptive Implants Inserted?

Implants are a form of long-term contraception that is put beneath a woman’s arm skin. A contraceptive implant comes in the form of a tiny rod that is made of plastic material. If you are looking for a long-term contraception method in McAllen, TX, an implant is a great choice because it is highly effective and can serve you for a long duration.

Implants as a form of family planning in McAllen work by steadily releasing small amounts of progesterone, which is a female hormone. The hormone then prevents pregnancy by making the cervical mucus become thick and making the inner lining of the uterus, called endometrium, to thin out. The endometrium is the area where implantation takes place, and when it is thin the uterus cannot support pregnancy.

What Are the Benefits of Implants?

Some of the best things about implants is that they provide contraception for about 3 years and they are convenient, unlike the pills that you have to take daily at a specific time. Implants as a form of contraception reduce interruption during sex. This form of contraception is highly effective with a low rate of accidental pregnancies.

The implant can be removed at any time you desire. If you want to conceive, you can do so shortly after removal of the implant because they have a short lag period. Implants also provide a contraceptive solution for women who cannot use estrogen-containing family planning methods.

What Are the Side Effects of Implants?

Common side effects of implants include changes in your menstruation cycle. Some women stop getting periods while some experience heavy periods. Other effects of implants include headaches, mood swings, abdominal pain, and benign ovarian cysts. Weight gain, breast soreness, stomach upsets, and reduced sex drive are other possible effects of implants.

You should avoid implants if you are currently pregnant, if you are allergic to the substances that make the implant, and if you have clotting abnormalities. Women who have breast cancer, heart disease, and liver diseases should not use implants. If you are having abnormal vaginal bleeding, you should avoid implants until the condition is treated.

How Are Implants Inserted?

Before the implant is inserted in your skin, the doctor will take a comprehensive medical history and physical examination to rule out conditions that could put you at risk of adverse medical outcomes. The doctor will also order a pregnancy test because pregnant women should not get implants.

During the insertion of the implant, you should lie facing up and bend your arm at the elbow while keeping your hand close to your head. The doctor will identify the landmarks of the area where the implant is inserted with the triceps and biceps muscle. The doctor then sterilizes this field, gives you a local anesthetic, and then inserts the implant using an applicator. You can go home immediately after the procedure.

Implants provide contraception for three years and they are highly effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy. The insertion of an implant is done in the outpatient department where the doctor sterilizes your upper arm, gives you local anesthesia, and then inserts the implant. Consult your doctor if you experience side effects like heavy bleeding and headaches.