Managing side effects from the hormonal implant

The implant is a soft piece of plastic that is put in under the skin or your arm.  It contains just one hormone, progestogen, which is similar to hormones produced by your body.

The implant is a widely used and highly effective long acting method of contraception — fewer than 1 in 1,000 people with the implant will get pregnant.

However  a common side effect is irregular bleeding.

While most users find that bleeding patterns settle within the first three months of having the implant, around 30% may experience unpredictable bleeding. We’ve put together a handy guide to check on side effects and to find out more about how to manage unpredictable bleeding in our info hub.