It is important that the contraceptive implant is fitted at the appropriate time in your menstrual cycle.

• If you are using another reliable method of contraception - for example the combined or mini-pill (and you have definitely not missed any pills since your last period) or you are on the contraceptive injection or have a coil, then we can fit the implant at any time in your menstrual cycle

• If you are having unprotected sex or are using the condom or diaphragm (however well), we can only fit an implant between day-1 and day-5 of your cycle (day-1 being the first day of bleeding). It can only be fitted later in the cycle if you have totally abstained from sex since the first day of the last period. This is necessary because we need to be certain that you are not in the early stages of pregnancy, nor that there are any sperm in your genital tract at the time that the device is fitted, which could later result in pregnancy.

• If you have an implant inserted later than day-5 of your cycle, you will need to use another method of contraception for 7 days after the fitting, until the device becomes effective.

• A contraceptive implant can be fitted from 21 days after you have had a baby.

• If you have an queries or concerns please speak to Dr Ballance.