Lost Libido and Implanon

[jjsangel]

Hello,
I am a 28 year old engaged mom of two, with a huge problem.  I have lost my libido, I have no interest in sex most times.  Some days I might get a fleeting time of arousal but more times than not, I'm just not in the mood.  This is a recent problem, I would say only starting after the insertion of my implanon. The only other change that has happened is that my fiance and I have moved in together.  I don't know what to do, I consulted my doctor and didn't get any answers there. This issue has been causing fights between us, he doesn't seem to understand that it is not my lack of attraction to him, it's just how I feel.  His thinking is that if I do love him, I should want to have sex as a way for us to be closer and nothing should make me not feel that way.  He's starting to believe that it's him, and no matter how much I tell him it's not, it does no good.

My first question is, whether or not anyone else has gone through or noticed this after getting implanon?  Second question, could it really be the implanon ( as in has it been documented to cause loss of libido)?  And third is if I get it removed, how long should I give it before things kind of go back to normal?  Like I said, we hadn't had an issue before with this.  In fact it took very little to turn me on... Sorry if TMI.  I'm just tired of the fighting, but I don't want to be unrealistic when it comes to getting this thing removed...  

The other side effects I can live with, but this one is making my life hell literally!!

[Dikketinus]

Yes it could be the implanon. One of the side effects a lower sexdrive. The implanon reduces free testosteron levels in your blood due to higher SHBG levels. This causes a number of side effects more. Like moodswings, chronical fatigue, headage and more. After taking it out your body has to restore normal hormone levels, but that takes a while. There are even studies that suggest your body would not even recover after taking it out. This is a major problem with hormonal anticonception.

[nkuhns]

I have the EXACT same problem as jjsangel! I went from having sex 5-6 times a week to maybe 2-3 times a month!  It's horrible and I am only 24! I have two kids and we didn't want another one for a while and my Dr said this would be a great thing, and at first it was, but now it is causing some serious relationship issues, and I no longer think it is worth it. Do I have the right to get it out asap, or do I have to wait another year before the 3 years is up?

[jjsangel]

@nkuhns Nope, it can come out whenever, I'm getting mine removed next Tuesday.

[catwalk4]

Hormonal birth control (especially ones like implanon) have around a 60% chance of you losing your libido completely or at the very least a little.  The doctor probably didn't tell you that, did they?  They usually don't.  GET THAT THING OUT OF YOU.  Once those hormones are out of your system it should only be 4-8 months before your body goes back to normal and you get your sex drive back.  Although just to warn you, it might have affected you long term and even after taking it out your body may not adjust back to how it was before.

[jjsangel]

Of course they didn't tell me that the way this thing works is that it makes the mere thought of sex revolting, so much so, that you won't want your partner to touch you and they would want to break up with you...lol  It's out Tuesday and I'm not going back on anything with hormones....

***** a whole lot.... 4-8 months?  Geesh

[leesha_85]

I have lost all sex drive, to the point where i don't even want my boyfriend to touch me.. I love him to death and couldnt figure out why i was feeling like this...  In discussing this with my girlfriend pointed out the fact that it might be my implanon... I never even gave that a thought!  So i did some reasearch and found several message boards similar to this!!!  

Has anyone else had theirs removed and recovered from this?  Does your sex drive return?

and is there anything i can do / take to help this along?

[Nikf265]

I am 47 years old & over the past 15 years I have had 5 implanon implants.  As menopause is now approaching & I wanted to allow my body to return to its normal state, I discussed with my doctor about removing it.  I had no other complaints with the implant, I actually loved it.  My husband had a vasectomy last year & then six weeks ago I finally had it removed.  My sex drive has gone through the roof, I am horny as hell!!!  I wish I had taken it out years ago.  My husband loves that it is gone.

[jjsangel]

I have an appointment to take mine out tomorrow.  I  can let you know... I'm (and he's) hoping that it doesn't take long.  wish me luck!

[jojo2012]

I am only 19 years old and i have used implanon for more than a year now, i have also been experiencing a very large decrease in my sex drive. This is very scary especially when i should be at my peak. I have had no sexual problems before but since using implanon i have a problem getting aroused and vaginally lubricated. I have also been suffering from headaches and extreme fatigue. I never contributed it to implanon until now.. i need help and answers.

[amina07]

You are not alone sweetie. Myself and several other woman that have it that I have discussed this with have the same side effect. I initially got my implanon @ the end of april of 09 and by the beginning of july i had no sexual desire @ all and I am a VERY sexual person, so I know it was because of the implanon. Me and my bf just moved in with each other in october and i decided to take it out soon after because our sex life was close to non-existent, just him touching and kissing on me is annoying because I just dont feel sexual. Anyways I had it took out the 2nd week of october and although I have had like 2 spurts my sex life is STILL NONEXISTENT. FYI, I had 2 previous appts to get it taken out earlier than october but planned parenthood kept having to reschedule me because (although they conveniently forget to mention this) the procedure to remove it is delicate and most ppl who r licensed to insert it DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TAKE IT OUT. I've been trying to find out how long does it take before my libido starts to kick back in again because its been causing major arguments between me and my bf.

[shelena]

Oh my god, I am so pleased that i am not the only person feeling like this. No amount of sleep ever seems to be enough. Which in turn is stresing me out. Even falling asleep at work. On top of this i have no sexual desire at all. In facty i can honestly say my partners touch makes my skin crawl. This makes me feel terrible but i really have no libido.Tonight my partner basically said i have changed and he relates it to having implanon fitted in october. he says my mood swings are terrible and im un approachable. Im going to make a appoiontment tommorow to have it removed. And hopefull in time things will improve. Thank you to all that have posted comments and made me realise that im not going mad . lol xx

[MommyMcClain]

I hear you everybody i have been breastfeesding so no bleeding and i thought life was great but like many of you said i dont even want to be touched so from my opinion now it can take 4-8 months for it to come back but im not waiting 2 yrs thank you guys i dont feel so alone

[rosenacoffin]

i have had the implanon in for about 2-3 weeks. i am coming up with problems of having massive stomach cramps the one time i tried to have sex. Now i have no drive to have sex. i have a great boyfriend who is telling me that i should look into the causes and i found this message broad. I am 21 with no kids and i don't want any so i thought this was a good idea. Has anyone stayed with the implanon and had their sex drive come back. And if i do get it removed will everything go back to how is was. My boyfriend is being really great about all this, but i really feel bad not wanting to have sex when i love him to death.

[mum2frazer]

so glad i am not the only one.
Had a look on the implanon-usa site, which reports that only 5%(of study) had libido problems......lucky us hey!!!
I had mine removed 4 weeks ago (after 12months) and almost instantly noticed a massive improvement in libido ( and general clearness of my moods). we are about to start ttc for #2, but still waiting for period... don't think I'll have it again, spent a long time trying to convince myself it wasn't the implant, but feel relieved that it was and its out!!

[jude82]

I have had my implant in for over 2 1/2 years got to the stage hubby and I split because of mood swings loss of libido and such was only a few months back realised it could be the implant causing the problem, I have bouts of when my libido is almost back to normal and then the next day I could just slap my husband if he even mentions sex LOL getting mine out Tuesday all I can recommend to all females do not get implant in the first place find different method of contraception the side effects I have are itchy skin no matter how hard I scratch no relief, food intolerance, mood swings, major fatigue some days don't even have the energy to get out of the bed and depression and due to the food intolerance my iron levels are extremely low and to top it off when the Dr put it in he cut the string to short so have to go under general to get it out I was told it was the best thing since slice bread well if i had of known all this then I would not have had it put in it literally has been slowly destroying my life and I cant wait after Tuesday I might start being on the road to gaining my life back

[JLB487]

Wow! I'm glad to see so many people are experiencing the same things I have been! Why dont the doctors inform you of this stuff??
I've had mine in for 6 months and have just started having arguments with my partner about me never (and I mean NEVER) wanting to have sex.. I thought it was just my crazy working hours making me tired! I'm gathering by the dates on this post that most of u have had the implant removed, how did u go? Everything back to normal? If so might make that appointment to get mine out!!!

[themrsbrand]

i was on implanon for 14 months. i did loose my sex drive and my husband is a fanatic.. but sex should not be the reason you break up, i mean we had arguments but we love each other and its not just about sex so why would it dictate whether we stay married. I have had implanon out for 2 months, 30 days after having it removed i got a period(had no period while on implanon) and my sex drive is back to normal, i dont have as many headaches. oh i was also on the depo shot for 5 years before the implanon with no period so, i would say it has a very fast recovery rate!

[breakingpoint86]

I am 24yrs old and always had a very high sex drive - I had the implanon in october 2010 I have really irregular periods, either not bleeding or bleeding for weeks on end. I can't stand having my fiance near me - forplay, full sex - it all makes my skin crawl , its ruining my life. However things have happened in our relationship that have caused me severe stress - but nothings changing and its just getting me down so much so I just want to be on my own all of the time. It hurts when I do give in and let him make love to me (my skin crawling all of the time) but I have had so many problems with pills etc, this was a last resort - its going to have to be condoms if I do have it out. And my partner is extrememly fertile!! Its all such a worry. I see u guysa have all had urs out now an u give me more info about it. So many thanks in advance from a woman @ breaking point... Like u wouldn't believe$

[angeleyez111979]

So, I've read through all the responses and haven't found an answer as to how to regain libido other without having to take out the Implanon altogether.  Has someone found a way to keep in the Implanon in and gain back their libido?  

The reason I settled on Implanon was because I have horrible issues with the pill, can't remember to take them, and Implanon was the only other contraceptive that allowed for spontaneity (besides Mirena, which I'm terrified of).  But now that I have absolutely NO desire for sex after having Implanon implanted, it completely defeats the whole purpose of having it.

I don't know what to do.  Arrrgghh.

[angeleyez111979]

Sorry for all the typos.  I didn't check it before posting.  

[jokirk]

angeleyez111979, I had the mirena, and had many problems. I have two children and thought it would be a great way to not get pregnant, because i have a hard time remembering a pill, but I had irregular periods while the mirena was implanted, had NO sex drive at all, and on top of all of that, it fell out of my cervix without me knowing, and I am now pregnant with my third child. if you are having troubles with the implanon and sex drive I would definitely not recommend mirena. the ten year one with no hormones in it may be a better choice, but I've never tried it. just keep checking to make sure it's still there! I had no problem at all with the patch, though, so I think I may go back to that after I give birth to my son.

[GemR]

I had the implant fitted the beginning of 2008 and  got it removed about 5wks ago as It really started to mess my periods up, to the point were I'd bleed for 8wks, stop for 2 and start again! Within the time of having the implant I had NO sex drive at all! Didn't think about it, just didn't want it! Now since Getting it removed I have noticed that my sex drive has certainly come back! I did like the implant but the side affects definitely ain't worth it. I now have the coil which is fab! It lasts for 5yrs and has no hormones in it! Would definitely recommend.

[shizzele]

i thought i was going maaad...implanon had totally messed up my sex life and oh the headaches are a nightmare...ive had it 3weeks and in 2days its OUT!.ill now try the iud and am praying it doesent mess me up...my man is the greast lover...i sued to orgasm even kissing but now i cant stand his touch...am through with implanon....ladies thank you thank you thank you

[sabh92]

I had the implanon put in June 2010, about 12 months ago. It has completely ruined my life. I had NO sex drive whatsoever. Always moody. Always tired, I was just a horrible person. It has even split me and my boyfriend of 2 years up because it made me feel so low that all i wanted to do was be on my own. I always wanted to sleep, and sleeping long hours wouldn't make much difference. I have just had it removed 2 nights ago. obviously, i'm not feeling much of a difference yet. has anyone had it removed and how long did it take for your sex drive to get back to normal? thing is, as i am now single, will i even notice my sex's drive's got back to normal (as i am not having sex)?

i've put my name on the waiting list to have the mirena coil fitted... am i doing the right thing?

[stephie127]

i have the same problem!!....i have had implanon for 2 1/2 yrs..and it is causing major problems with me and my husband...i have 2 kids and im getting mine removed in jan and am NEVER getting it again...i would rather have another kid than deal with the crap implanon has caused!!!!!!