The birth control implant, also known as Nexplanon, is a small rod inserted in a patient’s arm, which prevents pregnancy. It is one of the most reliable kinds of birth control with a ninety-nine percent effectiveness rate. One of the reasons it is so effective is because, unlike the pill, there is no chance of forgetting to take it and becoming pregnant. It is cost efficient and covered by most health insurance plans with no out of pocket cost.
Nexplanon prevents pregnancy in two different ways. Its progestin thickens the mucus on the patients’ cervix, which prohibits the sperm from swimming through to the egg. If the sperm cannot reach the egg, pregnancy cannot happen. The other way the implant prevents pregnancy is by ovulation. Ovulation is when progestin stops the eggs from leaving the patients ovaries. When the eggs are not realized from the ovaries, there is no way it can reach a sperm therefor the patient cannot become pregnant. Nexplanon also changes the lining of the patient’s uterus. If the implant inserted into the patients arm within the first five days of their period, it protects them …show more content…
Some of the problems include pain that lasts longer than a few days, infection where the implant was inserted, or a scar where the implant goes. If the patient experiences bleeding, pus, redness, pain that doesn’t go away, yellowing of eyes and skin, much heavier or longer than normal bleeding from vagina, or the implant moving they should contact their doctor or nurse. The most common side effect is a change in normal menstrual bleeding pattern especially within the first six to twelve months after getting the implant. Some of the other possible side effects are headaches, breast pains, nausea, weight gain, ovarian cysts, dizziness, stomach pain, viral infections, mood swings, nervousness, or depressed mood. It can also increase the risk of developing serious blood