Contraceptive Implant Insertion & Replacement in Belfast

These services are offered by Dr Anita Maini who has a specialist interest in Women’s health.

We have created a relaxing environment within our medical clinic in which to have these procedures performed.

Our clinic room is bright and airy and you are welcome to bring someone with you for support if needed.

A contraceptive implant is a small, flexible rod that is inserted under the skin of a woman’s upper arm to provide long-term birth control. Here’s a general overview of how a contraceptive implant is inserted by a doctor:

1. Consultation: Before getting the implant, you will have a consultation with the doctor. During this appointment, you can discuss your birth control options, potential side effects, and any concerns you may have. The doctor will confirm that the implant is a suitable choice for you.
2. Scheduling the insertion: If you and your doctor decide that the implant is the right choice, you’ll schedule an appointment for the insertion procedure. It’s essential to ensure that you’re not pregnant at the time of insertion.
3. Pre-insertion preparations: On the day of the insertion, the doctor will first review your medical history and perform a physical examination. They will also discuss the procedure with you once again and answer any last-minute questions.
4. Anesthesia: Local anesthesia is typically used to numb the area on your upper arm where the implant will be inserted. This numbing agent helps reduce any pain or discomfort during the procedure.
5. Sterilisation and marking: The doctor will sterilise the area around your upper arm and make a small mark to indicate the exact spot where the implant will be inserted.
6. Insertion: Using a specialised applicator, the doctor will insert the implant just beneath the skin of your upper arm. The implant is typically placed on the inside of your non-dominant arm, about 3-4 inches above the elbow crease. The entire procedure usually takes only a few minutes.
7. Dressing and bandage: After the implant is inserted, a small bandage or dressing may be applied to the insertion site to keep it clean and protected as it heals.
8. Post-insertion instructions: The doctor will provide you with specific instructions on how to care for the insertion site, what to expect in the days and weeks following the procedure, and when to schedule a follow-up visit.
9. Activation and effectiveness: The contraceptive implant may start working immediately if inserted during certain parts of your menstrual cycle. However, it’s essential to use backup contraception for the first week after insertion to ensure its effectiveness.

The contraceptive implant is designed to provide contraception for up to three years, after which it can be removed or replaced if you wish to continue using it or choose another method of birth control.

If you experience any side effects or concerns, such as infection or migration of the implant, consult the doctor promptly.

Most implants are placed under the skin of the upper inner arm where there is usually some adipose tissue. The doctor will examine your arm to feel for the implant.

She will then push the contraceptive implant towards the surface of the skin and mark the skin with an ‘X’ where the end of the implant is visible. This mark may be in a different area to the scar you have from insertion of your implant.

The skin will be cleaned with iodine solution to ensure it is sterile. Next a small area is injected with freezing liquid (anaesthetic) to ensure the procedure is not painful.

After five minutes the doctor will test that your skin is numb and if so, she will make a small cut in the skin approximately half cm wide with a sharp scalpel. The doctor will then push the contraceptive implant up towards the skin until its tip is seen. Then the doctor will prize the implant gently away from the attached tissue until it pops out.

Once the implant is removed the skin is then closed over with some paper strips and a dressing.

If a larger cut is needed to locate the implant suture / stitches may be needed to close the skin cleanly.

If we cannot feel the implant we cannot remove it, but will refer you for a scan to have the implant located and then removed

The contraceptive implant is a thin, flexible rod about 4cm long. It’s inserted under the skin of your upper arm. The implant stops the release of an egg from the ovary by slowly releasing progestogen into your body. Progestogen also thickens the cervical mucus and thins the womb lining. This makes it harder for sperm to move through your cervix, and less likely for your womb to accept a fertilised egg.

If implanted correctly, it’s more than 99% effective.

No, the doctor will ensure the freezing liquid (local anaesthetic) has worked by testing the skin above the implant before making a cut).

This depends on how long you have had the implant in place for. Some women start bleeding within 4 weeks but some take longer.

Generally you will not ovulate again until 2 weeks after your first bleed/period but it can vary if your cycle is irregular or if you have polycystic ovaries.

Sometimes the implant can be embedded in the skin and the doctor will have to spend more time dissecting the fibrous tissue around the implant so that it can come out easily. In rare cases it can be very difficult to remove the implant even though it was felt from the outside. If the tip of the implant cannot be felt, the doctor will recommend having an ultrasound to locate the implant and then have it removed. This is disappointing when someone needs it removed due to side-effects, but is essential. Referral usually happens in a specialist family planning clinic. A refund can be discussed with us in this case.

If the doctor can just feel the implant but it is deep below the adipose tissue, the doctor will discuss removal in the clinic. This can be done but you will have a larger scar to allow access to the implant if it is sitting deep below the skin. You will also need to have stitches put in place and therefore have to come back to have them removed.