Okay let’s get straight into my experience after pulling out that Implanon rod. Real talk, no sugar coating.
The Pull-Out Day
Went into my clinic feeling pretty done with hormonal stuff. The nurse numbed up my arm, made a tiny cut, and boom – that little plastic stick was out. Super quick, barely felt anything. She slapped a bandage on and said “See ya later!” Easy. Felt kinda liberated walking out.
First 24-72 Hours
- Spotted some light bleeding right after. Nothing major, just annoying.
- Arm where it came out was tender. Bruised up a bit too, like a bad pinch. Kept the bandage clean, no biggie.
- Honestly felt… exactly the same. No sudden changes. Didn’t magically feel better or worse.
First Week Rollercoaster
This is where things started wobbling. Around day 4 or 5:
- My skin went crazy. Started breaking out like a teenager. Ugh. Guess the hormones holding that back were vanishing.
- Moods felt shaky. One minute fine, next minute super irritable or wanna-cry sad. Like PMS on steroids, but random.
- That light bleeding? Stopped for a couple days, then came back. Annoying little surprise visitor.
By Day 10
Something else popped up: Headaches. Not full-blown migraines, but that constant dull ache behind the eyes. Started keeping water and paracetamol close.
Hitting the Month Mark (Sort Of)
Let’s talk timelines because google scared the heck outta me saying stuff should settle FAST.
- Spotting FINALLY quit around day 20-ish. Hallelujah!
- Skin was still a war zone. Had to step up the skincare routine big time.
- The moods leveled off a little. Not perfect, but less wild swinging. More like… regular PMS crankiness.
- Headaches eased up mostly. Thank goodness.
But here’s the real kicker I wasn’t ready for: Cravings. Like, insane hunger and wanting ALL the salty snacks and chocolate. Body feeling the hormone drop, maybe? Dunno, but my grocery bill went up.
Beyond the First Month – The Waiting Game
This is where everyone said “Oh, you’ll be back to normal!” Lies. Sweet, sweet lies. Or maybe just bad info.
- Skin took a full 8-9 weeks to start calming down. Still not perfect pre-Implanon me, but way better.
- Period watch began. This was the big question mark. When would my actual, real period show up? No clue. Folks online scared me saying it could take months. Mine actually showed up… almost exactly 5 weeks after removal. Felt like a total win! But it was HEAVY and crampy. Like my body was making up for lost time. Ouch.
- Energy levels felt off. Some days super tired for no reason. Not exhausted, just… blah. Needed more coffee naps.
- Cravings settled down mostly after the period arrived. Phew.
The “Fully Back to Normal” Myth
Heard so much conflicting junk about when things truly normalize. “A few months!” some said. “Just weeks!” others claimed. My clinic nurse was vague: “Could be quick, could take time.” Helpful.
My Personal Reality Check
- First period came at 5 weeks post-pull. Win.
- Cycle was wonky the next couple months. Shorter one month, longer the next. Not clockwork yet.
- Took a solid THREE MONTHS before my skin stopped rebelling constantly and my energy felt consistently like my old self. The mood swings leveled out too around this point.
- Fertility talk? Honestly, I wasn’t trying, but friend had a ‘surprise’ pregnancy 3 months after pulling hers. Yeah, that can happen FAST. So if you don’t want a baby, swap protection method BEFORE removal day! Total truth bomb.
So yeah. The whole “effects after removal” thing? Its messy. It takes longer than you think. Everyone bounces back differently. Don’t trust random influencers or Dr. Google telling you it’ll be over in a flash. My body needed way more chill time than that. Took notes religiously – best decision. Keep track of your own journey!
