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Does The Implant Work After The Expiry?
Hey, I'm on the implant birth control; the one that only last up to three years. I was suppose to take it out Fed the 17th but i didn't and the only time i could go get it out of my arm is March the 13th. I have had bad periods while being on the implant, pretty much always being on it except a week or three in a month for these three years but my doctor had given me another pill to help balance out the implant and control my bleeding. I've been sexual active a few times after the implant expired and once unprotected. I know condom isn't always 100% effective. I guess my question is, is the implant still working or did it stopped as soon as it expired?
Mon, 10 Mar 2014
Hello and welcome to health care magic,
I am Dr Nilajkumar a consultant gynecologist and I will be helping you in your queries.
The drug in the implant produces very high blood levels initially but as time progresses the amount of drug goes on decreasing. So it is difficult to say if it was still active for a month more. It usually protects till about 7 more days after its stipulated time and may protect longer but this is not a guarantee. Also ovulation may not resume soon if the implant is still in place as it will release some amount of hormone but again this is not a guarantee. So a back up method is advisable.
Get a urine pregnancy test done if a period is missed as that is the only available solution now. A single encounter of unprotected sex does not carry a high chance of pregnancy so do not worry so much.
Hope this was helpful in providing an answer to your query.
Thanks for using HCM.
Have a good day.
Dr Nilajkumar Bagde
Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology
I am Dr Nilajkumar a consultant gynecologist and I will be helping you in your queries.
The drug in the implant produces very high blood levels initially but as time progresses the amount of drug goes on decreasing. So it is difficult to say if it was still active for a month more. It usually protects till about 7 more days after its stipulated time and may protect longer but this is not a guarantee. Also ovulation may not resume soon if the implant is still in place as it will release some amount of hormone but again this is not a guarantee. So a back up method is advisable.
Get a urine pregnancy test done if a period is missed as that is the only available solution now. A single encounter of unprotected sex does not carry a high chance of pregnancy so do not worry so much.
Hope this was helpful in providing an answer to your query.
Thanks for using HCM.
Have a good day.
Dr Nilajkumar Bagde
Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology
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