You should have NEXPLANON inserted within 5 days of your regular menstrual bleeding. If NEXPLANON is inserted after the fifth day of your period, then you should use additional contraceptive methods, such as a condom, for the first 7 days after insertion.

The most common side effect of NEXPLANON is a change in your normal menstrual bleeding pattern. In studies, 1 in 10 women stopped using the implant because of an unfavorable change in their bleeding pattern. Your period may be longer or shorter, or you may have no bleeding at all. The time between periods may vary, and you may also have spotting in between periods.

Call your healthcare professional right away if you have:

• Pain in your lower leg that does not go away
• Severe chest pain or heaviness in your chest
• Sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain, or coughing blood
• Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swollen face, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing
• Sudden severe headache unlike your usual headaches
• Weakness or numbness in your arm, leg, or trouble speaking
• Sudden partial or complete blindness
• Yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, especially with fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark-colored urine, or light-colored bowel movements
• Severe pain, swelling, or tenderness in the lower stomach (abdomen)
• Lump in your breast
• Problems sleeping, lack of energy, tiredness, or you feel very sad
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Feeling that the implant may have broken or bent while in your arm

Heavy and prolonged bleeding means bleeding that lasts longer than usual or is heavier than what’s normal for you. Everyone’s cycle is a little different, so what’s “heavy” for one person may not be for another. The key is noticing a change that feels excessive or disruptive to your daily life.

Tell your doctor immediately if you think your menstrual bleeding is heavy and prolonged.

After NEXPLANON is removed, your period may return to normal within a few weeks. However, some patients’ menstrual cycles may be irregular initially. You might experience spotting, heavier or lighter bleeding, or skipped periods. These variations are normal as your body adjusts. Most individuals see their menstrual cycles return to their pre-implant patterns within a few months.

Tell your doctor immediately if you think your menstrual bleeding is heavy and prolonged.