We are here to support you.
Click here to get in touch and book online: Contact us

BOOK ONLINE

Please select the service you would like to book:

search-button

The contraceptive implant 

MSI UK client pointing to where contraceptive implant is inserted.

Home      Long-acting reversible contraception       The implant 

The implant 

The contraceptive implant is one or two small plastic rods which are about 4cm long, and sit just under the skin on the inside of your upper arm. The implant prevents pregnancy for three years.

The implant works by slowly releasing a hormone called progestin in your blood. The hormone stops the body releasing an egg each month. The hormone also makes it harder for sperm to get into the uterus. 


Video – the implant 

Would you like to find out everything you need to know about the implant in under two minutes? We’ve created this short explainer video, filled with information about the implant including: 

– What it is 
– How effective it is in protecting against pregnancy 
– Advantages 
– Disadvantages 
– Risks 

Nurse showing client dummy contraceptive implant

Getting the implant 

Inserting the implant is a simple procedure that takes about five minutes. A trained person inserts the implant under the skin on the inside of your upper arm. Your arm is numbed before insertion, so it is generally not painful. Once inserted the implant does not move around your body, although it may occasionally move slightly from the incision sight. This should not affect the efficacy of the implant, and implant removal should still be easy. You can feel the contraceptive implant under the skin. 

In the first few days after insertion, keep the section of your arm where the implant was inserted clean and dry if you can. You can wrap the affected part of your arm in cling-film when you have a shower. You will have a small wound where the implant was inserted into your arm.

In this image, you can see a dummy implant used in clinics to show the client what the implant will feel like in their arm.


Effectiveness of the implant 

The implant is the most effective contraceptive method available, and works very well at preventing pregnancy. 

The implant is more than 99% effective with perfect use. 

Fewer than 1 in 100 people using the implant will get pregnant in a year.  

How long does the implant take to work? 

If the implant is fitted during the first five days of your menstrual cycle, you’ll be immediately protected against becoming pregnant. If it’s fitted on any other day of your menstrual cycle, you’ll need to use additional contraception (such as condoms) for seven days. 

The mini pill – the perfect ‘bridging method’    

If you haven’t quite made up your mind about contraception, you may want to consider a temporary or ‘bridging’ method to get you from now until you get the method of your choice without putting you at risk of an unwanted pregnancy.   

The mini pill is the perfect ‘bridging method’, due to how quickly it protects against pregnancy.  


Other LARC methods 

Follow the links below to find information about other long-acting reversible contraceptive methods. 

MSI Reproductive Choices UK 20230605_0516

The contraceptive injection  

Find all you need to know about the contraceptive injection.     

MSI Reproductive Choices UK 20230612_0712

The non-hormonal coil (CU-IUD)

Find all you need to know about the non-hormonal coil (also known as the copper coil). 

MSI Reproductive Choices UK 20230612_0706

The hormonal coil (LNG-IUD) 

Find all you need to know about the hormonal coil (formerly known as the IUS).

Advantages, disadvantages, side effects and risks associated with the implant 

Having the implant fitted as part of abortion care with MSI UK  

As part of NHS-funded abortion care, we offer a range of contraception methods should you wish to start a method at the time of your treatment.  

If you are having a surgical abortion with MSI UK, we can arrange for the implant to be fitted during or on the same day as your abortion treatment.  

If you have a medical abortion and are collected your abortion tablets in person, you may be able to have your implant fitted at this time – please ask us if you are interested in this option. If you are accessing at-home abortion care (telemedicine), a nurse will be able to arrange an appointment for you to have the implant fitted following your abortion. 

Where can I get the implant fitted or removed?    

In the UK, you can make an appointment to have the implant fitted or removed – and to access other LARC (Long-Acting Reversible Contraception) services, such as coil fitting and removal – at sexual health clinics, contraception clinics and some GP surgeries. 

At MSI UK, we primarily offer contraception services as part of your abortion care. We also offer contraception services in some parts of England for people who have not accessed our abortion services. From these clinics, people can access LARC (Long-Acting Reversible Contraception, such as the coils, the implant and the injection) with us without having had an abortion. 

Follow the link to find out more: MSI UK Contraception Clinics


Learn more about contraception 

Visit the pages below to find a comparison tool to help you find the right method for you, to learn more about long-acting reversible contraception and to find information about MSI UK’s contraception clinics. 

MSI Reproductive Choices UK 20230605_0519

Which method is right for me?  

Find a contraception comparison tool that can help you find the right method for you.   

2fd9982f-c6d1-46c3-bef2-2005bd8d307a

MSI UK contraception clinics   

Here, people can access long-acting reversible contraception without having had an abortion. 

MSI Reproductive Choices UK 20230605_0792

Long-acting contraception  

Long-acting contraceptive methods include the coils, the injection and the implant.