Why Some Teens Choose Implants for Birth Control

While media buzzes about birth control pills and IUDs, some of the youngest sexually active women are quietly choosing another method, and it works: implants.

The implants are easy to get and easier to use. Better yet, they’re extremely effective. These devices are better at preventing pregnancy than even IUDs and having your tubes surgically tied. Some experts say this is a major reason fewer teens are getting pregnant.

Why Teens Like Birth Control Implants

Women of all ages can choose from a vast array of birth control options. Each has its pros and cons. Yet studies show that 13 percent of teenage girls choose implants over other methods. Those statistics are from 2015 through 2019, the most recent info available.

This product is packaged in a rod about as big as a matchstick. Your doctor will place the rod under skin in your arm, in a discreet location between your elbow and upper arm, and replace it with a fresh one three years later. The implant rigs your body so your eggs are highly unlikely to meet up with sperm. With an implant, you will be 99.9 percent protected from conceiving a baby. Technically called an etonogestrel implant, it’s made with progestin, a manmade version of the hormone progesterone.

Implants appeal to teenage girls for many reasons:

• No muss, no fuss. You don’t need to remember to take action daily or every time you have sex. In other words, the implant works without popping a daily pill, inserting a ring and/or spermicide, or insisting your partner wear a condom — but he should wear one anyway to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
• It won’t hurt much. IUDs are also excellent at preventing pregnancy. However, some women experience pain when the IUD is inserted. By contrast, it will only hurt a little to have the implant put into your arm, and your doctor can inject local anesthetic ahead of time so you won’t feel more than the initial needle prick.
• No stirrups are involved. You can get an implant without going through a gynecological exam.
• It comes right out. If you dislike your implant, you can have it removed at any time.
• It might temper PMS. Your cramps might decrease, and heavier periods might lighten up.

The Down Sides of Birth Control Implants

No birth control method is best for everyone, and that applies to implants, too. Consider these factors before asking your doctor for an etonogestrel implant:

• It might change your menstrual cycle. There’s a chance your periods will become irregular if you get a contraceptive implant. You might spot for a few months then return to normal, spot most of the time or stop bleeding altogether. There’s no way to know in advance how your body will react.
• It might cost you money. Most insurance plans including Medicaid will give you the implant for free, but you might need to pay for having it inserted and, later, taken out. Implants are cost-effective over the three years they work because you only pay up front, but you do need those funds.
• You’ll want to eat more. Your appetite might increase once you get an implant. That can lead to weight gain, so adjust your food choices accordingly. If this happens, your appetite might go back to normal after a few months.
• Your arm might bruise. Your arm might become black-and-blue for the first few days after a device is implanted, but it’ll heal within a week.
• Some women can’t use it. Implants are not for you if you have issues with estrogen, blood clots, high blood pressure or depression, among others.

Assess if Implants Are Right for You

You’re best off discussing implants and other birth control options with an OB/GYN or nurse. 

Implants fall under the category of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception, known as LARC. They’re especially great for people who need a product that’s reliable on its own. If you’re likely to forget to take a pill every day, stick on a patch weekly or insert a ring whenever you might have relations, LARCs provide good insurance against pregnancy. IUDs are also LARCs.

However, if you want to avoid any birth control method that has hormones, implants are not the right choice.

It’s most important that you find, and keep up with, an effective method of birth control. Talk to a medical professional to make an educated choice.