Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know over the internet whether or not you’re pregnant. The best way to know is to take a test. Teen Clinic offers free, confidential pregnancy tests on a walk-in basis anytime we’re open! You can also purchase pregnancy tests at local pharmacies and grocery stores to use at home.

Many patients experience light or irregular periods after their Implanon insertions, and some don’t get a period at all. By using Implanon, you’re more than 99% protected from pregnancy.  It is extremely rare for pregnancy to occur during Implanon use, but it still may be worth taking the test. Over time, you’ll get used to the way Implanon affects your period, and you may feel more confident that you’re not pregnant.

However, we do not recommend having unprotected sex. Implanon and other hormonal birth control methods do not prevent against sexually transmitted infections. Using condoms every time will help keep you safe and healthy. Even if you’re in a trusted relationship, try to stay in the habit of using them just in case. It’s your health!

This is a fabulous question. The answer is yes—and here’s why.

First, no hormonal birth control is 100% effective.  Even the most effective methods on the market—like IUDs and Implanon—prevent pregnancy only 99.9% of the time.  In very rare cases, someone becomes pregnant even though they are using a method correctly.

Second, sometimes people make mistakes with their birth control.  They forget to take a pill, put their next patch on late, or leave the NuvaRing out for more than 2 hours at a time.  While all hormonal birth control methods can be up to 99.9% effective, most are about 92% effective with typical use (97% for the Depo shot).

So why bother at all? Hormonal methods are still the most effective, reversible way to be sexually active without pregnancy. When used correctly, the risk of pregnancy is very small. And there are a few things you can do to help your method be the most effective possible.

First, use a condom every time you have sex. Not only do condoms prevent sexually transmitted infections, they’ll also act as a pregnancy prevention backup.

Second, choose a method that fits your lifestyle. Many females are great at using The Pill—but plenty aren’t! If you have trouble remembering to take a pill at the same time every day or change a patch once a week, consider using longer-term methods like Implanon or IUDs. Once these methods are inserted, they prevent pregnancy for 3-10 years—and you don’t have to remember a thing!

Third, talk to your partner about birth control. When both of you are focused on preventing pregnancy, it’s more likely to happen!

Teen Clinic offers free birth control and consultations. If you’d like to talk to a provider about changing your method, give us a call soon.  Thanks for keeping yourself safe and healthy!

Works Like A Charm is an online contest celebrating Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) and the awesome women and couples who use it.  Participation is open to young women ages 18-24 in the U.S. and their partners.

So–what’s a LARC again?

A LARC is a long-acting reversible contraceptive. These methods aren’t permanent, but they are highly reliable. They require less upkeep, which means there’s less opportunity for human error. The Patch, The Ring, The Shot, Contraceptive Implants and IUDs are all considered LARCs!

If you use one of these methods (and love it!) you could win up to $2,000 or an iPad for sharing your experience.

Visit the Works Like A Charm site for more details!

… One week? 2 days? One month?

Teen Clinic recommends using a back-up birth control method for seven days after your Implanon insertion. After the first week, Implanon prevents pregnancy 99.9% of the time.

However, Teen Clinic does not recommend having sex without a condom!

Here’s why:  unprotected sex carries a high risk for sexually transmitted infections, which can pass through skin-to-skin contact, sexual fluids, or blood. Some STIs don’t always have symptoms—so it’s possible your partner has an infection without knowing it. Choosing to have sex without a condom could put your health at risk.

Throughout your life, make it a priority to ask your partners about their past sexual experiences. Suggest getting tested at Teen Clinic. And keep in mind that, while it’s ideal to be able to fully trust a partner, sometimes people make decisions they’re not proud of and don’t tell their partners. It’s your health!  Using a condom correctly, consistently, and all the time will help keep you safe and healthy; a partner who doesn’t respect that doesn’t respect you.

Feel free to make an appointment at Teen Clinic if you’d like to talk to a practitioner about real-life condom use.  Discussing condoms and STIs with your partner can be hard, but it’s an essential part of being sexually active in a safe, healthy way.

…What about Implanon?

While some females do experience side effects from birth control pills, many do not. The truth is, side effects often have more to do with an individual’s body than with the actual pill. Birth control pills are usually made of estrogen, progesterone, or a combination of the two; some females’ bodies digest one of these hormones better than the other. Picking a pill with a different hormonal combination may work better for you.  Additionally, the way a hormone enters the body can make a difference. A person who doesn’t find a pill she likes may want to try Implanon, the patch, the shot, Nuva Ring, or an IUD.

Start by making an appointment at Teen Clinic for a birth control consultation. The practitioner will talk with you about why you like and dislike your method. If the weight gain and moodiness seems related to your birth control, she’ll help you pick another method. Keep in mind that it takes the body about three months to get used to any new birth control, so if you haven’t been on your method very long, the provider may ask you to hang in there. In the end, of course, it’s your choice to stay on your pills or to try something new.

Thanks for considering what your next method will be before you stop taking your pills—that’s the responsible way to do it!

Implanon is a reversible method, which means that it only prevents pregnancy as long as someone is using it.   It’s best to assume that a female can get pregnant as soon as the Implanon is removed. If you’ve had unprotected sex since your Implanon removal, we do recommend taking a pregnancy test. It’s always better to know. Pregnancy tests are accurate about ten days after unprotected intercourse.

After Implanon, you may not get your period regularly at first. Keep track of any bleeding to make sure you’re healthy. Remember, too, that it’s responsible to use a birth control method if you’re going to be sexually active. Make an appointment at Teen Clinic to figure out which method will work for you next!

… It isn’t painful and I can still find it easily when I feel my arm. Should I be concerned? Is it still effective?

Because Implanon is placed just under the first layer of skin, it’s normal for it to move a little in the beginning.  Eventually, fat layers will form around the implant, holding it in place.  If you’re concerned, stop into Teen Clinic to get your Implanon placement checked by a healthcare provider.  In the meantime, great job being aware of your body!  It’s a skill that will help keep you healthy and safe throughout your life.

Yes! Teen Clinic serves patients until they turn 20, and all our services are free and confidential.  We can remove your Implanon even if you got it somewhere else.  After the removal, we suggest speaking to one of our nurses about choosing another birth control method.  It will be possible to get pregnant as soon as the Implanon is removed!

… I have researched it and I’m sure that’s the birth control for me.

First of all, way to be on top of your sexual health!  Researching birth control options on your own is a great way to make sure you choose a method that works for you.

Inserting implantable contraceptives like Implanon is easy and safe to do. However, we require that all patients have a birth control consultation before the insertion of any long-term method.  In this appointment, we’ll make sure you understand how Implanon works. We’ll also make sure you know about other birth control options.  Last, we’ll check your personal and family medical history to ensure Implanon would be a good decision for you.

Most importantly, our nurses need to be able to rule out pregnancy before they insert Implanon.  If you’ve had unprotected intercourse within the last ten days, a pregnancy test will not be accurate yet. In this case, we would not be able to insert the Implanon.

When you call to schedule the visit, know that you are really scheduling a birth control consultation. If Implanon is a good medical choice for you and there is time left in the visit, we’ll do our best to insert the same day!  However, know that insertion is not guaranteed.

If you have further questions about Implanon insertions, give us a call at 303-442-5160.

Yes. After removing Implanon, you can get pregnant right away. Implanon is more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy for up to three years. You can take it out at any time; you aren’t required to keep it for all three years. If you are interested in a personal consult to see if Implanon is right for you, make an appointment at Teen Clinic.