**1.5 The side effects of contraceptive implants**

The side effects of implants include the following: changes in bleeding patterns, including (a) lighter bleeding and fewer days of bleeding; prolonged bleeding; irregular bleeding; infrequent bleeding; and no monthly bleeding (within a year period); (b) lighter bleeding and fewer days of bleeding; irregular bleeding; infrequent bleeding; and no monthly bleeding (after a year period); (c) users of Implanon and Implanon NXT are more likely to experience infrequent bleeding, prolonged bleeding, and/or no monthly bleeding than irregular bleeding; (d) other side effects are: headaches; abdominal pain; acne (can improve or worsen); weight change; breast tenderness; dizziness; mood changes; nausea; and enlarged ovarian follicles. The bleeding changes are normal and are not harmful. It also included skin atrophy at the site of insertion; impalpable implants; neurovascular injury; fractured implants; and abnormal uterine bleeding, as the risks or side effects of contraceptive implants [1, 6].

### **1.6 Health benefits of contraceptive implants**

The benefits of implantable contraceptives are: it helps protect against risks of pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy; it protects against symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease; it is going to help protect against iron-deficiency anaemia; and it reduces the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Contraceptive prevents pregnancy; reduces unintended pregnancy and abortion; reduces pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality; improves birth outcomes; helps women and couples time and space their pregnancies; improves maternal health behaviours; reduces cancer risk; improves mental health-related outcomes; and treats menstrual-related symptoms and disorders [6, 11].

Furthermore, it was discovered that the use of contraceptive implants brings harmony between the couples, which invariably promotes their mental health; and contraceptive implants are the most cost-effective method of family planning because it prevents unintended pregnancies and abortion among women of childbearing age [10].

### **1.7 Positive method characteristics of contraceptive implants**

It had been postulated in some studies that contraceptive implants is safe; highly effective; it is convenient; it facilitates harmony between the couples. In the same vein, implants have many positive characteristics that contribute to their rapidly rising popularity [10, 12]:


vi.There is prompt return to fertility.


### **1.8 Those who can and cannot use contraceptive implants**

It has been stated that almost all women of childbearing age can use implantable contraceptives safely and effectively, including women who: (a) have or have not had children; (b) are married or unmarried; (c) are of any age (e.g. adolescents and women over 40 years old); (d) have just undergone an abortion, miscarriage, or ectopic pregnancy; (e) smoke cigarettes; (f) are breastfeeding; (g) have anaemia; (h) have varicositis; (i) and are living with HIV [6].

In furtherance to the above reports, implantable contraceptive should be considered for women who: (a) desire a long-acting and highly effective contraception; (b) experience serious or minor side effects of eostrogen and/or eostrogen-progestin contraception; (c) are interested in a contraceptive method that does not require continous adherence; (d) love a non-coitus-related type of contraceptive; (e) have completed childbearing but not ready for permanent sterilisation; (f) have a history of anaemia with abnormally heavy bleeding at menstruation; and (g) have chronic illnesses which threaten pregnancy [8].

However, contraceptive implants should not be considered for women: known or suspected of pregnancy; having current or past history of thrombosis or thromboembolic disorders; having hepatic tumour or active liver disease; having undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding; having known or suspected breast cancer or history of breast cancer; and having hypersensitivity to any component of the method [8].
