The contraceptive implant is a small device placed under the skin of your upper arm that prevents pregnancy for 5 years. In Sri Lanka the implant available is Jadelle, which consists of two thin flexible rods.

It is worth knowing that the implant is the most effective reversible contraceptive available — fewer than 1 in 1,000 women using it will become pregnant in a year. It is more reliable than the pill, because it does not depend on you remembering anything.

How it works

The rods release a steady low dose of a progestogen hormone. This works in two ways: it stops the ovaries releasing an egg, and it thickens the mucus at the neck of the womb so sperm cannot get through.

Having it fitted

The insertion is a short procedure done in a clinic room. Local anaesthetic is injected to numb a small area on the inner side of your upper arm — usually your non-dominant arm — and the rods are placed just under the skin. You will feel the injection of local anaesthetic and then pressure rather than pain. No stitches are needed.

The implant can be fitted at any time, but the usual timings are within the first 7 days of a period, 6 weeks after giving birth, or within the first week after a miscarriage or abortion. Fitted at these times it works immediately; at other times you may need to use condoms for the first week.

Afterwards you may have some bruising, tenderness or swelling in the arm for a few days. You should be able to feel the rods under the skin — that is normal and means you can check they are in place.

What to expect: changes to your periods

This is the most important thing to know before you decide, and the most common reason women stop using the implant.

Your bleeding pattern will probably change. Periods may become irregular, lighter, more frequent, prolonged, or stop altogether. Roughly one in five women stops having periods; others have unpredictable spotting. This is not harmful and does not mean anything is wrong, but it can be inconvenient, and it is worth knowing in advance rather than being surprised by it.

If irregular bleeding is troublesome, see your doctor — there are treatments that can help, and it often settles after the first several months.

Other possible side effects

  • Headaches
  • Acne, which may improve or worsen
  • Breast tenderness
  • Mood changes
  • Bruising or soreness at the site for a few days after fitting

The implant does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, so use condoms as well if that is a concern.

Returning to fertility

Once the implant is removed, the hormone clears from your body quickly and fertility returns to normal almost immediately. You can become pregnant within weeks. This is a real advantage over the contraceptive injection, where the return of fertility can take many months.

Removal is a similar short procedure under local anaesthetic. You can have the implant removed at any time and for any reason — you do not need to wait until the 5 years are up.

Common myths, addressed honestly

“It's not safe while breastfeeding.” It is safe. The implant does not affect the quality or quantity of breast milk, or your baby's growth and health.

“Not having periods is harmful.” It is not. The implant thins the womb lining, so there is simply less to shed. Blood does not build up inside you, and your future fertility is unaffected.

“It causes weight gain.” The evidence does not show the implant directly causes weight gain. Some women do gain weight while using it, which may relate to appetite or to other changes in life at the time.

“It causes cancer.” There is no evidence that the implant increases cancer risk. Progestogen methods that thin the womb lining may reduce the risk of cancer of the womb lining, though this has been studied more thoroughly for other methods than for implants.

Who it may not suit

The implant is suitable for most women, including those who cannot use oestrogen-containing methods. It may not be right if you have unexplained bleeding between periods, certain liver conditions, or some cancers. Your doctor will go through your history before fitting it.

The bottom line

The Jadelle implant gives 5 years of the most reliable reversible contraception available, needs nothing from you day to day, and is quickly reversible. The main trade-off is an unpredictable bleeding pattern. If that sounds acceptable, it is an excellent choice — and if it turns out not to suit you, it can be removed at any time.

References

  1. National Health Service. Contraceptive implant [Internet]. NHS; [cited 2026 Jul 22]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/contraceptive-implant/
  2. World Health Organization. Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use. 5th ed. Geneva: WHO; 2015. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549158
  3. National Health Service. Contraception [Internet]. NHS; [cited 2026 Jul 22]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/