Nexplanon before and after: what to expect

Before insertion, a clinician reviews your medical history, medicines, allergies, bleeding pattern, pregnancy possibility, and other contraception needs. Tell them about liver disease, unexplained vaginal bleeding, breast cancer history, or medicines and herbal products that may affect hormones. The rod is placed under the skin of the upper arm using local anaesthetic.

After insertion, bruising, tenderness, mild swelling, or a small amount of bleeding around the site can occur. Bleeding patterns may also change, including spotting or irregular periods. Nexplanon can be removed when you want a different method or when its approved use ends; fertility may return soon after removal, so plan another method if pregnancy is not desired.

Wear clothing that leaves the upper arm easy to access. Follow the clinic's instructions about keeping the dressing clean and dry, and avoid pressing or knocking the area while it settles. Check that you can feel the rod as your clinician has shown you, but do not repeatedly handle it.

Keep the insertion and removal details with your health records. Use backup contraception when your clinician recommends it, because protection depends on timing and on whether the implant is correctly placed. Read the information for the etonogestrel implant before the appointment and discuss a hormonal coil if you prefer a different option.

Contact the clinic if redness, warmth, worsening pain, drainage, fever, numbness, or increasing swelling develops at the arm. Seek urgent help for chest pain, sudden breathlessness, severe headache with neurological symptoms, or a painful swollen leg. If you cannot feel the rod or think it has moved, use backup contraception and arrange an assessment.

Ask when protection begins, which medicines matter, how to care for the dressing, how bleeding changes will be handled, and how removal or another method would be arranged.