I had the Implanon implanted July of 2011, before that I took the pill. I was fine August of 2011 and come September I got a vaginal infection. Every month since then I started to get either yeast infections or Bacterial Vaginosis in addition to developing a rash under and on the sides of my mouth. This is the first time in my life that I've had infections this frequent (of coarse every now and then a yeast) but NEVER every month and I have never had a problem with acne or a rash being around my mouth. My obgyn says that its not the implanon causing my misery but it's the only thing I changed so it has to be. My general doctor says the rash looks like perioral dermatitsis. I was given antibiotics for ten days and it didn't make it go away. I've been suffering a little over two years. As far as Implanon working, it has done its job. I never bleed (maybe spotting every now and then), I haven't gained weight, and I barely know its there. I've read other reviews and see the pros and cons from women but haven't read of my two concerns. If any one has had or heard of someone having my problems, PLEASE let me know. I hate to have to take it out and it not be the problem. Also, any suggestions on a different birth control that doesn't cause these issues? Thank you for your time!
Can Implanon cause vaginal infections (Y.I., or B.V.) every month, & rash around the mouth?
Question posted by Starlight888 on 29 Aug 2013
Last updated on 12 October 2022
56 Answers Page 3
I'm so glad I found this thread. I got my Nexplanon in August 2016, three months ago. I haven't had a period at all. No spotting or anything. However the last couple days I've noticed some vaginal itching after urinating. And it feels as if my urethral opening is swollen. I've had one yeast infection in my life and it was well over six years ago. One sexual partner for the past four+ years and we've both been tested and are clean. No UTI's, BV, or anything prior to this. I've also been having headaches a lot lately (could be weather related, unsure about that) -and my skin looks terrible. Zits popping up everywhere. In the past I would get a couple zits here and there when my period was coming. Now it's constant. Can anyone confirm that this goes away after the implant is removed? I don't want mine removed because I'm on it to control a heavy & painful period (which it's doing) but I can't deal with an itch, uncomfortable vagina for the next three years.
Oh wow I'm so happy to see I'm not alone I'm so miserable on this implant it's so painful to have sex with my husband I'm always so irritated and sore with one kind of infection or another I'm getting mine taken out in about a week I pray all these horrible simptoms go away for good but now my worry is what kind of birth control to try next and it has to be something breastfeeding friendly any suggestions?
Yes I too got the implant last year and have been suffering similar symptoms to this. I have been suffering with a nasty greenish discharge every day and constant dryness and itchiness to my vulva/lips, I thought this may be some infection so got swabs taken which have all came back clear so I am questioning now if this is the implant causing these horrendous symptoms. I am so embarrassed every day and worried that people close can smell the odour comin from this. It's really a foul discharge. Hopefully others can share similar experiences so we have a Betta insight to the effects from implants. I also unfortunately have piled loads of weight on too so I am seeking to get this removed asap.
I got Nexplanon in 2013. It has been 3 years now and I need to have it removed. I saw this thread and had to comment, because before I received the implant, I never had such imbalance. Since then I have had constant yeast infections. At first it was just a little bit, and it went away after medication. But it would come back a month later. Now it never goes away as the medication doesn't seem to work. None of it. By the time I "clear" it up, I get my period, and then a week later I have it again. I also have had BV quite a few times, and I have had the same sexual partner. The doctors say that Nexplanon does not cause this imbalance. Then what is going on? Perfectly healthy females all of a sudden all getting multiple infections? That doesn't add up.
I've been having the same exact problems. The first 3 years of the implanon was perfect . I still got my periods and nothing went wrong but when My 3 years was expire and I went back and got the nexplanon in the beginning of December 2015 , and ever since I've been having reoccurring yeast infections and bv sometimes both at the same time and just like you ladies have been saying my ob/gyn said its not the birth control that's causing it . I'm not crazy and I know my body and I live a healthy lifestyle so I will be getting it taken out in 3 days .
I currently have the exact same issue! I had my first implant out in around February 2013, I had no issues whatsoever for the following 3 years. Since having it replaced March 2016 I have had nothing but issues with yeast infections! It's affecting both me and my partner as well as making me feel really down! It seems I am experiencing all of the side effects with the replacement, I have put on a lot of weight also. I couldn't figure out what was causing the issue until reading this and it makes so much sense! Did having the replacement taken out make a difference?
I have had this same issue since I got it in march of 2014 I believe if not early april of 2014... I get CONSTANT yeast infections little to no periods ever... but tons of acne and weight GAIN. Also super emotional it's definitely done it's job... but just sick of yeast infections and bacterial infections)))):
Omg! I have been on the implant for ,2 Years now and recently after getting it I suffered from yeast infections pain etc etc I was told same that it wasn't the implant but I am thinking of getting it removed now after reading the comments. It's been driving me crazy.
I got the implanon put in my arm may of 2014 and when it was first put in until about a month ago, I bled 24/7! I Always had to have a tampon in and it was always a good amount... I'd go through about 3-4 tampons a day and I would ruin all the underwear I'd wear! I just stopped bleeding about 4 weeks ago (Sept 2015) and now I just started having some brown discharge again (October 2015), so now I'm back to wearing tampons again. For the past 6 months, my smell had increased drastically and its to the point where I can't even go through a full day without being able to smell myself on the outside of my pants! It's so mortafying!!! I'm really debating on getting it taken out! It's such a pain and its ruining my social and sex life!
I have been having the exact same problems, I had implanon inserted April and since then I haven't bled much but I have had a yeast infection once a month, and bv as well. It has been hell. Prior to implanon I have had no infections ever. Now after antibiotics for BV I have thrush - again!!!
Unfortunately antibiotics do cause thrush. Try Diflucan One. It's one tablet that you can buy over the counter for around £13. It's amazing for wiping out thrush. No need for cream or pessary.
I got the implanon around November of 2014. I was fine. I was just experiences the 1-2 week spells of bleeding. Other than that everything was good. It's working and I haven't been pregnant. It was around Feburary of 2015 when I started feeling pain during sex. Afterwards I would be extremely sore and irritated, it was just awful. Me and my boyfriend have been tested and we are clean. I feel like this is a side effect of the birth control. Lastly, I have been experiences heavy discharge daily and for about a week or two. it was producing a strong smell for a few days. I don't even have an enjoyable sex life anymore. I thought it was a yeast infection so I tried over the counter drugs. I think it might be BV. It so embarrassing when I'm around my bf. I don't know what it could be. Someone please help. Should I removed the implant?
I'm getting my implant removed. I spoke to my family Dr and she said "Yes, get rid of it if you've been experiencing these problems only after getting the implant." It's not worth the pain or the frustration it causes for relationships.
Hi collegegirl96 it sounds to me like you have BV if you have a grey watery discharge that has a fishy smell to it. Can sometime cause itchiness and burning as well as swelling. You need to take a course of metronidazole antibiotic tablets for 5 days if it is. There is a course of just one pill that doctors can clear it with if you ask for it.
I've gotten the implanon in January of 2015, & never experienced any problems until May 4 I was at work & all of sudden I had terrible itching, swelling, and soreness. I immediately thought I had a yeast infection which was weird bc I didn't notice any type of discharge. So I go to the OBGYN & she thinks the same thing so she prescribes 3 pills & tells me to take one, and another one in 3 days & only take the 3rd pill if I really need to or save it just in case I have another one in the future, she says I should start feeling better by the next day to go back to work. Well I didn't feel any better at all! So I call her and she tells me not to wait the 3 days to just take the 2nd pill & wait 2 or 3 days if I'm not feeling any better to take the 3rd one. Well I took all 3 pills and nothing got better so she prescribed me some cream & that only made it worse.
So I go back to her & she tells me everything came back negative for yeast, BV, and any STD's. So she prescribes me an anti fungal & steroid cream & she tells me if that doesn't work to just go the Emergency room. I asked her if it could maybe be the implanon & she says it's not. So after 4 days the cream did nothing so I go to the Emergency room. To make a long story short they couldn't tell me anything either they give me an antibiotic shot just in case I came up positive for BV, which came back to be negative along with yeast, STD's, and STI's . They also prescribed me some more antibiotics that made me sick as a dog I was constantly vomiting, had horrible stomach pain & could not keep any food down. I'm just now getting over it, it's been 24 hours & im still having stomach pain. So I'm kind of lost on what to do everyone keeps telling me to take the implanon out but I'm scared that if I do that won't solve the problem and I like the implanon but I'm starting to think that maybe that's what's causing all these problems. So I'm going to get it taken out Tuesday & hopefully I'll start feeling better. It's been really hard & stressful I've been battling this for almost a month now & no one can seem to tell me what's going on its so nerve wrecking & it's costing me my job. But I'll keep you guys posted on weather things get better/worse after I remove the implant.
I've been having this same problem for the past week now. I got Nexplanon back in June. Since then my sex life has been non existent due to pain and bleeding. Now this awful irritation, burning, and swelling. My Dr did the same thing as yours. I haven't got the lab results from my culture but I know for a fact that it is the Nexplanon doing this to me. I haven't been on BC in 6 years and was perfectly healthy and happy, I get the Nexplanon and everything sucks. I called my Dr's office and told them I will be having it removed.
Hi I know it’s been about 5 yrs ago but did all your problems fade away??
Hi Starlight888, ive had the implanon in my arm since November 25,2011, and ive been having similar problems as well. Just last month ive had two periods in one month, ive been having yeast infections after yeast infection, uncomfortable sex and 3 BV! Its really been scaring me because ill go to the doctor and they told me that im experiencing my last year of the implanon. Im tired of the pain, itchiness, and gray chunky discharges and ill be seeing the doctor maybe next week to get it took out! ill keep you updated soon
How do you feel after removing it ?
I had mine taken out after having it for a total of 6 years (changed after 3) I am not sexually active and now believe that my 3 occurances of BV have been caused by implanon as I never had anything like it before this.
I decided to have it taken out 2 weeks ago and within 24 hours I felt very different. Much more like my old self again. I started my first normal period 24 hours after removal without no sign whatsoever of pmt and I am so pleased I decided against another replacement. I don't think I could cope with another 4 months of crazy mood swings whilst it settled in or a period every 2 weeks. This of course was contrary to the first time I had implanon as my periods stopped completely.
I will say that the implant has been linked to both cervical and breast cancer and I have been treated for cervical cancer (I was lucky I caught it early) and just 2 months ago breast cancer after finding a lump. Thankfully this was found not to be cause for concern although I am still keeping an eye in it.
The implant may successfully prevent unwanted pregnancy but I personally don't think it's worth the side effects!
Thank you!! I just removed mines on Saturday and my period started the next day ... but I have high hopes that this will stop the yeast and BV from coming back every second
I have been having BV a lot since I've been on this impanon. I'm trying to research and put together is this is the real cause of me getting BV. Sometimes I feel like I need to take it out and see what happens but I've had it for 6 years(on my second dose) but it's so affective. It makes no sense that all these women are having the same problems and we are all on the same thing.
I'm glad I googled this and this thread popped up. I have been having the same problems. I got my implanon in april of 2014 and ever since I have been having yeast infections that monistat won't fix. I've been having constant periods practically. Bleed 2-3 weeks and off 1 week. The exact opposite of what it should be. It's driving me insane! I'm going to call my dr first thing monday, and get it taken out... and back on the pill or nuva~!
I had the exact same problem when I first started, to control the irregular bleeding my Gp prescribed oral contraceptives and that regulated my cycle within a month. I was supposed to be on the pill for three months while using the implant, but I forgot to collect the second Monty's prescription. However my periods had gone back to normal. I even gave my sis the same advice and it worked for her too.
I have had the same problem. Suffering for 3 years, finally insurance will cover the removal next month. I had tried several antifungals and 5 different antibiotics. The doctors said they couldn't find anything wrong with me. I've had repeated std screenings. Nothing. I searched the side effects for implanon, though, and 14 percent of women in trials experienced vaginal infections. No oops pregnancy though. Woo-hoo. Except I gained 50 pounds. That's a real downer.
I have the nexplanon which is like the implanon. Got it in August 2014, and started having what seemed like a constant yeast infection. I knew it was weird because I never had even had a yeast infection before having the implant. I finally went to the doctor around November and got treated for an external yeast infection. She gave me cream for it. This only worked for a few weeks then it was back. After suffering from terrible itchiness, rawness from scratching, and painful sex, I went to the OBGYN again today and she is taking it out in two weeks. She thinks this dryness/yeast seeming infection is from the nexplanon, and said it could be because the implant doesn't contain estrogen. She said it should go back to normal in a few weeks after getting the implant out.
I have exactly the same problem. It's driving me crazy! I've put loads of weight, and my skin is rubbish . My Dr recommended the implant and was very keen I get it, but now that I want to get it removed, apparently there is quite a waiting time. I've also had quite heavy periods for up to 8 days, for the last 8 months.
Related topics
implanon, infections, birth control, skin rash, contraception, mouth, vaginal infection
Further information
- Implanon uses and safety info
- Implanon prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Implanon (detailed)
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