I got my implant February 12th. I was on day 4 of my period. I went on to have my period for an additional 2 days like usual. No bleeding until March 6th. I bled my 6 days. When my period was over, I started experiencing brown discharge or maybe blood... Not much, but enough to need to wear a thin pad. On the 19th of March, I started another period. Ended 5 days later. That being said, from March 24-current (April 14th) I've been non stop experiencing more brown "blood." Sometimes it lightens up and I think it's going to stop, then it gets dark again.
If my boyfriend and I have sex, I start bleeding actual blood for 30minutes- an hour, then experience brown blood again. I don't know if I have a problem, or if it's normal. I haven't seen anything about bleeding brown blood for a month or even longer really at a time. Only for a couple of days then it stops. Should I be concerned? Also, is brown blood or discharge considered "spotting?" Or is spotting just mainly a little bit of pink/red blood?
Nexplanon - Is non stop brown blood or discharge normal?
Question posted by ellenirene on 14 April 2015
Last updated on 17 November 2022 by Nicki91
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
63 Answers
It be brown spotting for weeks sometimes might turn red after a shower or during or after sex then be back brown again…. Only time it last a long time for me is when I stop having sex for to long…. This haven’t really happen it years mines recently expired 5 months ago it’s like my body going back threw the first phase when I got my first one 13 years ago until now I’ve never let it expire before
Im in the same boat, a year ago I got that implant and I was fine for like six months no bleeding and then I got that nasty brown discharge. It's been going on even as of now nonstop, I'm not even sure if I get periods anymore and I only had a one week break from it till it came back again. It's annoying and I have to wear pads every single day but it works for it's intended purpose.
I am so glad to read this here -
I had a hysterectomy a view years ago and of course no periods. After 4 years is saw sometimes slide pinkish discharge. Doctors didn't even care and in the end I went to a private gyn- result : some cells can regrow and slidely bleed. He decided to give me the implant to stop it.
I had no issues for roughly 2 years. Not even massive mood disturbance or anything until 2 month ago. I didn't feel well, had a headache and was also a bit emotional when I saw a slidely brown discharge--literally just once and than it was gone. The gp told me it's probably a BV which could be caused by my adhd meds.
4 weeks later I had again just once slidely brown discharge and than its gone - I literally can't even make it to the doctor and show them because it would be fine again by then.
It doesn't particularly bother me but it made me freaking out - especially the fact that it seems we women here know what we are talking about, but from the doctors I just get told " well don't know whatever".
I see how it will proceed but at least I can stop panicking and know now it happens to others as well.
I am glad that I found this page.
I had this for about a year before I gave up & had the implant taken out. You may be ok & it may just be for the first few months until things settle down. There's no way of knowing, as everyone is different.
It's difficult to define what's spotting & what's bloody discharge. Usually spotting is spots of blood. Brown, pink or red discharge is just spots of blood mixed into cervical mucus.
Apologies... someone decided to add an answer to this old question, so I got a notification & thought it was a new question.
So I have had mine for 2.5 years. And I remember very clearly when I first got it I was having the same thing happen. I at one point was bleeding for 6 weeks, and like you said light some days like it was going to stop then it didn’t. But then I wouldn’t have it for 2-4 months. This went on for me for about the first 9 months. I definitely thought about getting it removed, because that sooo annoying to have a period that long. Finally after that I have gotten a period once every 7-10months. And same dark brown (like old blood) for the entire period. I’m a nurse and still found it odd. I talked with my OB dr and she said it’s normally to happen like this with the nexplanon. Hope this helps!
I got nexplanon inserted december 20th and my period was supposed to come december 27th , but it hasn’t and i’m 12 days late. I’ve been having cramps off and on and today i’ve noticed that some light brown discharge was on my underwear, is all this from the nexplanon or like my body getting used to the hormones being put into my body ??
You don't necessarily have periods with the implant. You don't ovulate, so any bleeding you get is breakthrough bleeding, rather than a proper period; a chemical bleed, from the chemicals in the drug.
Some women have no bleeding at all, some get irregular bleeding, & some get constant bleeding. Once you've been on it a year, you more or less know what it's going to be like for you. In other words, if you're still getting bleeding or at the 1yr point, it's unlikely to change.
If the bleeding gets heavy & constant, you'll need to be monitored by your doctor for anaemia.
And, yes, the cramping is just caused by the implant. You can get any hormonal symptoms that you'd get with a period or pregnancy, or other hormonal change in the body. It may improve as you adjust to the artificial hormones/chemicals, it's hard to say, as everyone is different. It's a case of waiting to see.
I think I found a solution! (That worked for me, anyway.) I found this forum about a month ago when I had been bleeding for about 4 weeks. It was varying between the brown spotting and the regular period blood. I found one lady had answered on here about increasing your estrogen intake... So, I asked my gyno about it a few days later. She said that eating foods high in estrogen can help to thicken the uterine lining, and in turn stop you from bleeding. She said soy lattes, flax seeds... just foods high in estrogen. She did warn me that with some women, added estrogen in the diet tends to heighten their symptoms. So in my situation, I drank a soy latte from starbucks every other day for a week, and added flax seeds to my diet. Within a week & a half, I had stopped bleeding entirely! And I feel back to normal. So my suggestion is to first and foremost, TALK to your doctor about it and see what they think. Like I said, not everyone has the same situation. But, it worked for me so I figured it might would work for someone else! Good luck ladies!
Am going through the same thing,am having brown discharge every day i can't even have sex,is there any other solution other than removing the implant?
I’m so glad I’m not alone on this! My story is very strange though. I was on the pill (Chateal) for almost 3 years and 7 months. I always had 3 weeks of the white pill and 1 week of the green pill. When I took the green pill, I ALWAYS had my period for about 4-5 days of those 7. Anyways, in the last TWO MONTHS of my pill - I was constantly bleeding the heavy brown/black discharge. Whether I was on the white or green pill, it wouldn’t stop. I even took two pills for a few days and it only barely lightened my bleeding. It was absolutely ridiculous! I went to THREE OBGYNs in the area, freaking out about the non-stop bleeding for over two months, & none of them could tell me what was wrong, but told me to try a different birth control— which lead me to Nexplanon. I got it put in during the first week of April 2019 and the brown bleeding stopped about one week later.
Thank goodness!! Now— I have been on Nexplanon for about 4 months and I had the mood swing troubles, but NO BLEEDING! It was truly a blessing, but the brown blood started up again two days ago HEAVY & I’m worried it won’t stop again. I called a few OBGYNs about it & yet again- no one knows what’s going on. Really hoping someone has answers or how long it’ll take for this to end. I’m also still very concerned about how I was having regular periods on the pill, but then bled the brown blood for almost two months. It makes me think something is wrong. Looking forward to a response and hopefully some answers!
I have the exact same! But I’m later on, this is my second Implant, and I have had it in for around 10 months. I had no periods at all until I began a normal period 8 months in, but after it finished brown discharge that just continued until I had another period!
The second period came and went, but again I’m left with brown discharge just a little every day, but if I have sex I bleed fresh blood
I’ve not bled for since I had implant put in (6 months ago) but for past 3 days I’ve had brown blood. Is this normal?
Got my Nexplanon put in in early April 2018 went a couple months no period the had a mostly normal period for a couple months then nothing again then would have some spotting mostly old brown blood (super gross looking) all the sudden come Oct 2018 I’m having a lot of brown discharge sometimes goes more red but always dark and lasts for weeks I get a couple days break and it starts again but now I’ve been doing it none stop since a week before Christmas so like 3 weeks and I’m having some stomach pain like light cramping. Also have loss of energy but I suffer from depression and had that some before so not sure if it’s the implant or not Starting to wonder if having it removed is best? Any suggestions
I know this is 3 years later but mid September 2018 (this year) I got my rod inserted. I had no discharge/bleeding until late October 2018. It was on and off for a month but now it’s more heavy and I’m bleeding everyday non stop. My GP said it would take 2-3 months for me to adjust to it as most of these responses have been told but it’s been making me very anxious and moody. I’m hoping when New year comes around, this cycle will stop else why the best thing would be to remove it. I’m also diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis so I thought my ‘disease’ or what I like to call condition was the reason this was happening. I’d like to think it’s all normal but in reality... I am very worried since its been a bit over 3 months now.
Just went to see the doctor about something similar. I was given the pill on top of my Implanon for period control. I take a pill every morning and since then haven’t gotten any discharge
I'm not sure if it's "normal", but I've had exactly what you described for the past couple months after getting Nexaplon. The brown discharge, and the bleeding after sex for 30 minutes. I plan on discussing it with my doctor, because while it's not a lot of bleeding, you do get tired of it after a while. I'm sorry you're experiencing the same things, I thought I was the only one.
Related topics
discharge, period, nexplanon, bleeding, implant, blood
Further information
- Nexplanon uses and safety info
- Nexplanon prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Nexplanon (detailed)
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