Long Acting Subcutaneous Swabs (Nexplanon)
- Its effectiveness lasts for 3 years.
- It can be removed immediately if conception is desired.
- It should be ensured that women are not pregnant before application.
What are Subcutaneous Swabs?
- It is a subcutaneous implant containing etorgestrel.
- It is safe to use and is one of the safest contraception methods.
- They are small tubes, rods containing hormones placed under the skin in the upper inner arm.
How do subcutaneous swabs work?
- Prevents ovulation,
- It thickens the mucus in the cervix and thus prevents the sperm from reaching the egg,
- It also thins the intrauterine layer.
How to Use Subcutaneous Swabs?
- It should be placed and removed under the skin by your doctor with a small surgical procedure. A point-shaped incision is made in the skin and the rods are placed under the skin with the help of an applicator.
To whom can subcutaneous rods (Nexplanon) be applied?
- Requesting a family planning method or having menstrual cramps;
- Adolescents
- In perimenopause (after 40 years of age)
- Breastfeeding mothers
- In some patients in whom the hormone estrogen may be risky in terms of clotting (obese, hypertension, diabetes, smokers...)
- Women who have recently had a miscarriage, abortion or ectopic pregnancy can be fitted with long-acting subcutaneous rods.
When does contraception start with subcutaneous sticks?
- If applied within the first 5 days of menstruation, contraception starts immediately.
Does it cause anomaly in the baby if pregnant while using subcutaneous sticks?
- No, there is no evidence of anomaly.
When can I get pregnant when the subcutaneous rods are removed? Does it cause infertility?
- When the rods are removed, the ability to conceive returns immediately. It does not cause infertility.
Do Subcutaneous Swabs Make Changes in Menstrual Pattern?
- It may cause menstrual irregularities, intermittent bleeding, spotting or absence of menstruation. Half of these findings resolve after 1 year at the latest.
Can it be used in women who have given birth and breastfeeding/non-breastfeeding?
- You can have it applied at any time after birth. Breastfeeding women do not need to use additional methods in the first 6 months if their periods have not yet started after birth, but if it is applied after the 6th month, it is recommended to take additional protective measures for 1 week (such as condoms...).
- Non-breastfeeding women should use additional contraception for the first 7 days when the rods are applied after the 4th week after birth.
- In our clinic, we usually offer the option of subcutaneous implantation when we call our postpartum women for control at the 6th week after birth.
Can it be used immediately after a miscarriage, abortion or ectopic pregnancy?
- Yes. If it is applied within the first 7 days, there is no need for additional contraception, otherwise it is recommended to use additional contraception for the first 7 days after application.
Important Points About Contraceptive Methods Containing Only Progesterone; (Minipil, Subcutaneous Swabs, 3-Month Contraceptive Injections)
- Can be used in smokers over 35 years of age.
- It can be used in smokers, in patients with high blood pressure who are stable with treatment, in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the past, in patients with high cholesterol.
- It can be used in patients with valvular heart disease or migraine without aura.
- It can be used immediately after abortion.
- It can be used in patients with endometriosis or ovarian cysts.
- It can be used in patients with fibroids, benign cervical wounds.
- It can be used in patients with gallstones, patients with diabetes without organ damage, chronic hepatitis.
- It should not be used in the presence of active liver diseases, active viral hepaiti, liver tumours, DVT, breast cancer.
- It should not be taken together with some drugs (griseofulvin, bosentan, rifampn, itracanazole, ketakanazole, cyclosporine...), its effectiveness may decrease.
What are the Disadvantages of Subcutaneous Swabs?
- Infection may develop at the entry site within the first 2 months.
- Sometimes it can be difficult to remove (easy to remove when placed correctly).
- Rarely, it can escape through the arm to other parts of the body.
- It can come out of the arm within 4 months.
Do Subcutaneous Swabs Increase the Risk of Ectopic Pregnancy?
- No, they do not.
Do Subcutaneous Implants Cause Cancer?
- No.
What is the Failure Rate?
- In correct use, 1 in every 1000 women become pregnant in the first year.
