Choosing the right birth control is essential not only to your sexual health but also to your future. Our warm and compassionate staff at Mian OB/GYN & Associates understands how incredibly important birth control is to so many people and can give you close and caring guidance.
For anyone who isn’t looking to get pregnant, Rafiq Mian, MD, offers the Nexplanon® implant as a convenient and highly effective way to prevent pregnancy.
What’s Nexplanon?
Assuming Nexplanon is right for you, it will protect you from pregnancy for up to three years. The Nexplanon implant is a tiny sliver of plastic that’s engineered to release small doses of hormone that suppress ovulation. Nexplanon also prevents sperm from reaching your eggs.
The Nexplanon implant is about the length of a matchstick and is inserted into your upper arm. The tiny size and flexible plastic material make it invisible, but detectable with your fingertips. Nexplanon is FDA-approved for use in women 18 or over and can be started immediately after ending another type of hormonal birth control.
The timing when it comes to your implant is important to consider as well. If, for example, you get your implant inserted in the first five days of your menstrual cycle, you’re immediately protected, whereas, without your cycle, effectiveness starts after seven days.
Could Nexplanon be right for me?
If you’re looking for an easy and safe birth control option that’s over 99% effective, Nexplanon could be right for you. While many people are good candidates for the Nexplanon implant, it’s important to understand why we require a consultation first. Going over your medical history with Dr. Mian is one of the factors he considers when prescribing birth control.
Your age, overall health, and lifestyle have to be considered when choosing the right birth control for you. You should not take Nexplanon if you:
- Have a history of breast cancer
- Have liver disease or liver cancer
- Are pregnant or might be
- Have experienced a serious blood clot
- Experience unusual vaginal bleeding
Does Nexplanon have side effects?
Like many birth control options, Nexplanon has some reported side effects. They include:
- Changes to your menstrual cycle
- Spotting between periods
- Weight gain
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Acne
More serious side effects include:
- Headache
- Pain
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sore throat or flu-like symptoms
- Breast pain
- Back pain
- Vaginitis
If you’re living with a chronic condition, particularly diabetes or hypertension, it’s important to inform Dr. Mian. Whichever birth control we prescribe for you, we need to make sure that your chronic conditions are well-controlled, as birth control can exacerbate some of your symptoms.
How is the implant inserted?
After determining that Nexplanon is right for you, Dr. Mian provides you with local anesthesia. You’re awake for the entire procedure. He then makes a small incision in the upper part of your non-dominant arm. After carefully slipping the implant just under your skin, Dr. Mian closes your wound with sutures and applies a pressure bandage.
Inserting the birth control implant takes just a few minutes in the office with Dr. Mian. The procedure is generally low-pain or pain-free. After your sutures are closed, Dr. Mian will confirm that both he and you can feel the implant just under your skin. If you need pain medication, he will recommend some for you.
What happens after I get the implant?
You can remove your pressure bandage 24 hours after your in-office procedure, and it’s normal to see a little bruising and scarring in the area. Make sure that the area stays clean and dry, and watch for any usual symptoms as you heal. If you experience heavy bleeding or swelling at the insertion site or have pain that can’t be relieved with over-the-counter medications, contact us.
The Nexplanon implant is a great new tool to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Our staff is ready to assist you with a consultation. Call us today at 301-754-0450 or book an appointment with us online.