[jazzine]

I went to my Obgyn yesterday because I wanted to get on some kind of birth control since my Doc told me WLS patients should wait at least 18 months to get pregnant. So since BC pills aren't so effective on WLS patients I went in with my mind set on the Nuvaring which I had tried before. It is pretty easy to use, just insert for three weeks and on the forth week remove and you will menstruate, I figured it was the best choice.
My Obgyn informed me that there is a new contraceptive called Implanon. basically it is 1 plastic rod the size of a matchstick that is put under the skin of your arm in an in-office procedure, similar to Norplant (which was discontinued because of the difficulty of the removal of the 5 rods, many had to get surgery to get them removed). This BC last up to 3 years, then it gets removed and a new one is implated if desired. It contains progestin only, it does not contain estrogen. The rod doesn't contain latex or silicone and will not dissolve.
Now my only concern is that it has only been out 1 yr here , according to my Doc, but the pamphlet said that since 1998 there have been more than 2.5 million Implanon units prescribed in more than 30 countries. This sounds great, I don't have to worry about BC for three years! I would like to try it but my only concern it that it is still fairly new here. I haven't had any children yet so she said an IUD is out of the question. So my questions are: has anyone heard of this contraceptive? Does anyone currently use it? If anyone has any suggestions or knowledge of this kind of BC I would appreciate it greatly. Thank you.

[DocSanae]

First off, you should ask your surgeon about it.

Basically, hormonal control during the rapid losing phase post op is unreliable at best. The amount of estrogen released from the melting fat just about overrides everything else. Also, since it's new, there is no way to know how it will affect WLS patients, as the rapid change in your metabolism itself, as well as the overflowing hormones, may throw a curve in the effect of the med, and 2) losing weight rapidly means you will very likely have loose skin issues, though how much will depend on the person, so, an implant may not be the most comfortable thing to have under your skin tissue. If it lasts for 3 years, then if you opt for plastics after you lose weight, it may even end up being where you need to have your skin removed...you will lose all over.

[ragdolldude]

Ask your surgeon. In my support groups they too recommend waiting a minimum of 18 months before pregnancy after WLS, but the preferred time is 24 months. Also, your hormones become more active after WLS surgery, and my surgeon recommends you use TWO FORMS of birth control. Accidental pregnancies do happen, and my surgeon has made this recommendation based on pregnancies in recent WLS patients who are only a few months out, AND who have used birth control means.

[BOOTS]

Personally I Would Not Try Somthing So New. Plus It Is True What Doc Said.

I Have Always Had A History Of Taking A Very Long While To Get Preg. Me And Dh Have Been Real Good These Past 8 Months Of Just Being Real Careful Near Ovulation Time And He Also Wears Somthing. Only Once We Goofed Up And Bam Im Preg. Which Was Hard For Us To Believe. So Be Real Careful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jazzine]

Thank you all for the advise. You are right Doc about all the estrogen & hormonal changes I am going thru right now with my weight loss. I guess I will continue to use protection until I speak with my surgeon on the best BC contraceptive for WLS patients.

[Queenofthenile]

Jazzine,
I utilize implanon right now. I have had it for about a year. The procedure was very simple. They inject you with a local anesthetic then use a special instrument to implant it in the upper region of your arm. I believe it is intramuscular. I do not feel it at all although if you place your hand in the area of injection, you can feel the rod. I have had no problems at all and the procedure was painless. I don't have to think about pills or rings . I do not know how it affects people who have had WLS since I have not had WLS yet but I asked my surgeon and she said it will pose no problems but I would have to use another form of protection during rapid weight loss. I hope this helped.

[kiwi-leelee77]

A friend of mine has one. She got it done in Australia (apparently it isnt in NZ yet). She loves it. no probs, no weight gain, no periods nothing.

As soon as it comes here, I will be the first in line to get it done.

[amina6ae]

I'm Always Very Cautious With Any "new" Procedures Or Anything!!
Just Read As Much As You Can About It & Of Course Talk To Your Surgeon!!

Good Luck To You!!
Lol,

[mlg78]

What about the Depo shot? Or will that give you similar problems to the pill?

[DocSanae]

Hormones are hormones in any form--depo, pill, patch, whatever. The issue here isn't absorbtion, it's the effectivity due to the release of great amounts of estrogen from the fat cells (where it's both stored, and some produced) that renders any form of hormones administered from the outside ineffective, unless it's in great enough amounts to counteract the hormones released during the rapid losing phase.