Implanon and mental health

[fireheart]

So I just found out that I've just overpassed my removal date for the contraceptive implant I have in my arm. The problem is though, is that with the last changeover, my emotions and mental health basically became worse for a period of time.

Anyone else with mental health issues, what do you use or can recommend? Just a heads up, norplant is not available in Australia.

[Shangri-laschild]

I had the mirena implant for a while and I mostly liked it. I didn't notice any mood changes at all with it. The only trouble I had was it occasionally would shift out of place just enough to cause slight cramping like pain. I was told it was still effective when that happened and it really wasn't daily pain. It seemed to take about 6 months each time for it to shift but I also found that during time periods when I was more sexually active, it would stop it from happening. Guessing the movement would help keep in place. If it weren't for a couple of dry spells, I probably would have stuck with it but between that and getting pissed at a doctor who told me it was fine (not my usual doctor), I decided to switch to the arm one.

[NecessaryCatharsis]

Every type of hormonal birth control I tried played fast and loose with my emotions and mental abilities. I know I haven't tried them all, but the 4 types I tried turned me into an emotional train wreck. Okay, I am usually an emotional train wreck, but they really brought it to the foreground, and made it impossible for me to 'act' normally.

I have been using copper t IUD for many years now, with no side effects at all, but I don't know if that is an option if you haven't had children yet. I don't know why but it is not recommend for woman without children.

[Sapphire Silk]

This would probably be a conversation best had with your OB GYN. Tell her about the problem with the last implant and ask for suggestions.

[Seshat]

I had an OB/Gyn tell me that the hormonal methods that are located in the uterus or vaginal vault don't mess with emotions; so ask your OB/Gyn about those. (The hormonal IUD, and the hormonal cervical ring, IIRC.)

IUDs are normally not recommended for women who have not had a natural childbirth because the channel through the cervix is narrower.

That said, I've had a copper-T and would do so again. The insertion hurt - well, not pain, but an intense and strong sensation of ... something. But then there was ten years of not needing to worry about contraception other that checking the 'strings' once a week or so.


If your OB/Gyn's appointment time is too short for you to have a good conversation about contraception options, consider making an appointment with one of the specialised sexual-health centres (such as Family Planning Australia). Their nursing staff can give you some preparatory information; and they can always make an appointment for you with one of their doctors if you want advice from someone other than your regular OB/Gyn.

My IUD insertion was with one of their Gyns, and I was quite happy with it.

[fireheart]

Thanks guys. Turns out there's a clinic located in my home suburb specifically designed around family planning and it bulk-bills (translation: [Aussie] medicare pays the doctor a certain amount and the doctor agrees to accept that amount. Anything above that is charged as a gap) so that's all fine and dandy.
I don't have a regular OB/GYN as I've moved over from my hometown and I haven't needed one until now. As it stands, I do have an appointment with a GP on Monday, but only to kickstart my mental health care plan and go from there.

[fireheart]

And hooray for awesome family planning clinic lady!

So I get in and go through the drill of paperwork and whatnot, then speak to the lady. Basically I had 3 reliable options: implant, Mirena or copper IUD. Most of the other hormonal options we had to nix due to the fact that if I was struggling to cope with the temporary increase in hormones (which in itself is fairly low compared to most other contraceptives) from the implant, I'd struggle even further on the other options. The copper IUD had the added problem of I would need to get it done elsewhere because I'd need to be sedated for it. (Also the fact that it can make periods heavier and more painful, which I don't need)

So I'm on the implant for the time being, but with the caveat of added monitoring over the temporary period of adjustment. How this is going to work I'm going to discuss with the GP on Monday, it may just be that I complete a K10 (mental health self assessment) with my psych, it may just be that I do a /10 score daily, we don't know. I have a month to work that out.

On the plus side, I did also get my Pap test done, so that's out the way. The doctor was awesome about it too. in and out within 5 minutes (so to speak). I was due for it next month, but she figured I may as well get it done anyway

[EvilEmpryss]

On the off-chance that you are either not planning on ever or are done with having children, a hysterectomy is a wonderfully reliable form of birth control that does not mess with your hormones if they leave your ovaries.

It's drastic, yes, but I am bipolar and I'm discovering more and more medications will tip me into a manic or a depressive episode, so not having to worry about extra hormones wreaking havoc on my system is a blessing on top of never having to buy another tampon. I had mine about six years back and I no longer have to worry about any of that.

Just so you know ALL your options.

[Seshat]

Weird. I didn't need sedation for my copper-T.

For something less radical than a hysterectomy, there's cut-and-tie or clip options on the fallopian tubes, and also a plug that be slid into the tubes (inserted through the vagina, the insertion monitored either by ultrasound or a laproscope).

[fireheart]

Weird. I didn't need sedation for my copper-T.

It may be a YMMV thing. I think it may have been based on the shape of my cervix and the fact that I REALLY tensed up with the speculum. (I know that's quite common)

[raudf]

You'd need it with the Mirena, then. I kinda like mine, since my cycle has now become a one hit wonder, but I don't like the fact that it shifts with my cycle.

My regular gyn won't do a partial hysterectomy, because I'm apparently a healthy 39 year old, who suffered both gestational diabetes and dangerously high blood pressure w/swelling of the limbs on both pregnancies. I don't even want the 0.01% chance of pregnancy from the Mirena. I want 0%!

[fireheart]

You'd need it with the Mirena, then. I kinda like mine, since my cycle has now become a one hit wonder, but I don't like the fact that it shifts with my cycle.

My regular gyn won't do a partial hysterectomy, because I'm apparently a healthy 39 year old, who suffered both gestational diabetes and dangerously high blood pressure w/swelling of the limbs on both pregnancies. I don't even want the 0.01% chance of pregnancy from the Mirena. I want 0%!

Mirena was flagged as a no-no for me because it has a higher hormone dosage than the implant. In fact, of the hormonal contraceptives, the implant has the lowest dosage overall.