The best time to implant a contraceptive after giving birth

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Pham Thi Mai Nhung - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital

Contraceptive sticks are plastic tubes that contain birth control pills. It is usually implanted under the skin of the woman's non-dominant hand. Currently, this is a modern and effective method of contraception for postpartum women

Contraceptive sticks are plastic tubes that contain birth control pills. It is usually implanted under the skin of the woman's non-dominant hand. Levonorgestrel or etonogestrel is a progestin hormone used in the contraceptive implant.
The contraceptive stick will work after 24 hours of implantation and is effective for 3-5 years or maybe longer. While using the implant, you do not have to use any other methods of contraception.

If you're breast-feeding: The best time to have a postpartum implant is 6 weeks postpartum if you're breastfeeding. If you cannot use another method of contraception, you should use the implant method if it is not 6 weeks after giving birth. If you are not breast-feeding: Less than 21 days after giving birth, if you are not breast-feeding, you can get a contraceptive implant at any time. After 3 years of implantation, if you still intend to prevent pregnancy with this method, the old one will be removed and the new one will be inserted in one procedure. It is necessary to consult a specialist when choosing to perform this method.

Like other birth control methods, there are some side effects when using an implant. The most common are menstrual cycle disturbances (menorrhoea or menorrhagia), vaginal bleeding. In addition, the implant can also cause other side effects such as:
The implant can change the user's hormones, symptoms may be encountered such as freckles, melasma, acne. many... Many women after implantation will feel nausea, gain weight.... About 30% of people using this method will experience amenorrhea. A few other cases will reduce sex drive, chest tightness, headache... The implantation of the contraceptive rod does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases. The implant under the skin will usually be 3-5 years, after this time, the device will reduce its effectiveness, or if left for too long, it will cause side effects, affecting health. Many women arbitrarily put the implant without any advice from the doctor. This has a huge impact on health. Should not implant the contraceptive indiscriminately, need to go to reputable medical facilities, consult specialist doctors when deciding to choose to implement this method.

Currently, implantation of the contraceptive rod is being chosen by many women because it is the easiest method to use and the best prevention in contraception.
The contraceptive implant is a reliable family planning method. The effectiveness of this measure is up to 95% and lasts from 3-5 years. Although the success rate is high, it does not mean complete success, a small number of subjects can still get pregnant with the implant.
Most people who use the implant will return to a normal menstrual cycle after removing the implant and the possibility of pregnancy after removal is usually about 1 month.

Although it is a highly effective method of contraception, however, not all women can use the contraceptive implant method.
Women with diseases related to endocrine, heart, pulse, blood pressure should not use the implant containing hormone. If you have or have had cancer, you must tell your doctor before using the contraceptive implant. If you have a history of abnormal vaginal bleeding or liver dysfunction... all information must be promptly communicated to your doctor before implantation. With a high rate of effectiveness, ease of use and reasonable cost, the contraceptive implant method is currently the most effective method of contraception today. However, before choosing to implement this method, it is necessary to visit a specialized facility to learn and consult with doctors to avoid unwanted effects.