Implanon removal and weight loss

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Replies

  • crystra82
    crystra82 Posts: 1 Member
    This seems like an old post, but nevertheless: i have been slowly lowering my calories from a "healthy" amount for someone who strength trains, in small increments down to about 900 calories. I know someone will bring up starvation mode. But even during the weeks i was holding steady at 1400 or 1200 calories. I was not losing weight.
    Before implanon i held steady at 114 and could eat anything and never gained weight. A year after i had depression and began overeating. I went up to 152.
    This year i have been practically living at the gym. I cannot get below 130. Its been months of calorie restriction and exercise. I have gotten to the point where i no longer have cheat meals.
    It seems it would be simple math to calculate how to lose weight. But unfortunately i do agree that some part of what the birth control does is effecting my journey. Ive never had this much trouble in my life. Just fyi. My personal experience, for others who are in a similar circumstance.
  • crackpotbaby
    crackpotbaby Posts: 1,297 Member
    I do not use hormonal birth control because for me they:
    - exacerbate my mood disorder
    - wreak havoc with my menstrual cycle (dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia)
    - cause weight gain; bloated belly, swollen breasts, some fat (which basically goes within a few months of stopping whatever)

    This is on the pill, of mini pill etc although I've been off it for about 15 years because they disagree with me so much.

    The way these drugs work is to trick your body (with hormones) into thinking you are in the early stages of pregnancy so it doesn't release an egg or thicken up your uterine lining.

    I personal find that a bit irksome in itself.

    Don't get me wrong; I'm pro birth control and if you tolerate hormonal forms, power to you.

    ..........

    I have watched more than one friend 'blow up' weight wise while on Implanon. They also experienced inconvenient spotting and irritability.

    ..........

    On this topic I think it's important to recognise, standard 'blood work' does not look at hormone levels. A full blood count looks at blood cells. Chem 20 looks at chemical markers that monitor renal function etc. LFTs look at liver enzymes.

    Hormonal tests are quite a different thing than standard blood work, so blah blah blah blood work is kind of vague.

    Also, unless you are an endocrinologist or gynaecologist reviewing the details of a specific person's clinical history in a professional capacity, do you really think it's appropriate to comment on whether a synthetic hormone is affecting that person's weight gain/loss/maintenance or not?




    Anticipating the passive aggressive woos.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    lizery wrote: »
    I do not use hormonal birth control because for me they:
    - exacerbate my mood disorder
    - wreak havoc with my menstrual cycle (dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia)
    - cause weight gain; bloated belly, swollen breasts, some fat (which basically goes within a few months of stopping whatever)

    This is on the pill, of mini pill etc although I've been off it for about 15 years because they disagree with me so much.

    The way these drugs work is to trick your body (with hormones) into thinking you are in the early stages of pregnancy so it doesn't release an egg or thicken up your uterine lining.

    I personal find that a bit irksome in itself.

    Don't get me wrong; I'm pro birth control and if you tolerate hormonal forms, power to you.

    ..........

    I have watched more than one friend 'blow up' weight wise while on Implanon. They also experienced inconvenient spotting and irritability.

    ..........

    On this topic I think it's important to recognise, standard 'blood work' does not look at hormone levels. A full blood count looks at blood cells. Chem 20 looks at chemical markers that monitor renal function etc. LFTs look at liver enzymes.

    Hormonal tests are quite a different thing than standard blood work, so blah blah blah blood work is kind of vague.

    Also, unless you are an endocrinologist or gynaecologist reviewing the details of a specific person's clinical history in a professional capacity, do you really think it's appropriate to comment on whether a synthetic hormone is affecting that person's weight gain/loss/maintenance or not?




    Anticipating the passive aggressive woos.

    Yes if you are up on the current studies etc of BC.

    and if you understand science at all.

    If there is weight gain up to lets say 10-15lbs while on BC and it stays there chances are it is water retention from the hormones but that is a fact of life with BC and is not really weight...might be bloating and uncomfortable but it can be that or the rest of your life caring for the child...pick.

    2nd you can't gain actual weight without increasing calories and that is not from BC...it has none. So if you blow up in weight on BC and I mean over 20lbs then you need to look at intake...partially because all BC side effects note "increased appetite and weight gain"...note increased appetite comes first....

    As well if you knew how studies were conducted on BC that kind of sheds some light....so here it is in a nutshell.

    Woman are told to take this pill/implant/shot etc and report back any thing odd that wasn't present before.

    they are not in a lab being monitored on a calorie controlled diet etc.

    So less than 5% of woman report weight gain..that is automatically listed as a possible side effect...

    So if 8% of the woman note husbands left that would be the next one...(Joking of course) but that is how side effects are listed...

    I get BC can cause issues...my hair thinned...i held onto 5-10 lbs of water weight...my breast got sore etc...but any actually weight I gained was cause I ate too much.
  • hollygardner92
    hollygardner92 Posts: 2 Member
    I had my implant out almost a week ago, not due to weight gain but because I want to try an alternative method of contraception, to improve my mood and get to know my body and it’s cycles better.

    I gained weight while on the implant, I had it for 4 years in total but I also lost weight as well when I tried and was focused. I know that my weight gain was due to an increased appetite and an appetite for the wrong things!!

    Since removing the implant I haven’t lost weight as such but I feel less bloated, happier, more in control of what I’m eating and not feeling a need to binge. I hope this paired with more exercise will lead to healthy weight loss.
  • BeccaJo13
    BeccaJo13 Posts: 1 Member
    I had nexplanon inserted on December 22, 2016. From then until July, I had extremely long periods with next to no break in between. I've had terrible acne, and I never attributed that to the implant until now. My family has looked at me and said, "You have an eating problem," and "You need to lose weight," but I haven't changed my eating/exercise habits whatsoever. I look in the mirror, and I see new stretch marks, and I'm starting to panic. I do P90X cardio nearly every day, and I don't eat unhealthy snacks/junk food or drink soda, but it seems like every day I look worse and worse. I'm losing confidence in myself. I've also been getting awful acne, which I never had before getting the implant. If I get the implant removed, will that solve the problem? Will my weight go back to normal? I was about 165 lbs. before I got the implant, and I guarantee that I'm near 200 lbs. now. I'm so tired of this weight gain....
  • KateTii
    KateTii Posts: 886 Member
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  • Ssg25
    Ssg25 Posts: 21 Member
    I've had the implant for nearly 2 years now and it hasn't caused weight gain at all. When I started watching my calories and working out I lost weight, same as before the implant
  • yaritza0187
    yaritza0187 Posts: 3 Member
    Hi

    I've had the same weight gain issue. I feel all of you who are working so hard and have not seen any results. The second time I had the nexplanon inserted I have been slowly gaining weight. The doctor told me that they changed the nexplanon ingredients but there wasn't a big difference. The doc didn't exactly tell me how it changed. I think the changes made it worst. I have put on about 25 lbs in less than 3 years, and it could have been more if I did not battle with it. The last draw was these past few months in which I have been strictly dieting and keeping a food diary, and exercising 4 times a week for more than an hour combining cardio and strength training. Guess what? I gained 2 lbs. How in the heck do you gain when you are exercising and eating right? I was fuming. Those of you who don't believe it, there are more of us with the weight issue than without as you can tell by the comments. I had to to change OBGYN doctors and argue with my new one to convince him that it was the nexplanon. I am getting it removed in 2 weeks. Those will be the longest 2 weeks of my life. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I have confirmed what I was thinking all along. I will keep you updated.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited April 2018
    Hi

    I've had the same weight gain issue. I feel all of you who are working so hard and have not seen any results. The second time I had the nexplanon inserted I have been slowly gaining weight. The doctor told me that they changed the nexplanon ingredients but there wasn't a big difference. The doc didn't exactly tell me how it changed. I think the changes made it worst. I have put on about 25 lbs in less than 3 years, and it could have been more if I did not battle with it. The last draw was these past few months in which I have been strictly dieting and keeping a food diary, and exercising 4 times a week for more than an hour combining cardio and strength training. Guess what? I gained 2 lbs. How in the heck do you gain when you are exercising and eating right? I was fuming. Those of you who don't believe it, there are more of us with the weight issue than without as you can tell by the comments. I had to to change OBGYN doctors and argue with my new one to convince him that it was the nexplanon. I am getting it removed in 2 weeks. Those will be the longest 2 weeks of my life. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I have confirmed what I was thinking all along. I will keep you updated.

    I'm not here to talk you out of removing your nexplanon, but want to point out that your reasoning is flawed.

    1. I bet there are plenty of guys here who have gained 25 pounds in three years, and of course are not using hormonal BC.
    2. Lots of things affect the number on the scale - notoriously water weight. I have water weight gains twice per month - when I ovulate and premenstrually. We can also have a water weight gain due to exercise stress or emotional stress.

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/dietary-restraint-and-cortisol-levels-research-review.html/

    ...a group of women who scored higher on dietary restraint scores showed elevated baseline cortisol levels. By itself this might not be problematic, but as often as not, these types of dieters are drawn to extreme approaches to dieting.

    They throw in a lot of intense exercise, try to cut calories very hard (and this often backfires if disinhibition is high; when these folks break they break) and cortisol levels go through the roof. That often causes cortisol mediated water retention (there are other mechanisms for this, mind you, leptin actually inhibits cortisol release and as it drops on a diet, cortisol levels go up further). Weight and fat loss appear to have stopped or at least slowed significantly. This is compounded even further in female dieters due to the vagaries of their menstrual cycle where water balance is changing enormously week to week anyhow.

    And invariably, this type of psychology responds to the stall by going even harder. They attempt to cut calories harder, they start doing more activity. The cycle continues and gets worse. Harder dieting means more cortisol means more water retention means more dieting. Which backfires (other problems come in the long-term with this approach but you’ll have to wait for the book to read about that).

    When what they should do is take a day or two off (even one day off from training, at least in men, let’s cortisol drop significantly). Raise calories, especially from carbohydrates. This helps cortisol to drop. More than that they need to find a way to freaking chill out. Meditation, yoga, get a massage... Get in the bath, candles, a little Enya, a glass of wine, have some you-time but please just chill.
  • yaritza0187
    yaritza0187 Posts: 3 Member
    First of all, you don't know me or how my body works so reserve your judgemental comments to yourself and anyone who is too basic to to listen to you. I know what I am doing. The way that I am eating and exercising is not stressing me. What stresses me is the Implanon and the FACT that it makes you gain weight and retain fluid and FAT. Also, are you a doctor? or a Specialist in hormonal imbalances in women? Your comment does not apply to most of us. People like you think they know it all. Well, you don't.
  • ruvirivera23
    ruvirivera23 Posts: 1 Member
    I just had to sign up and share my experience with you all just because THE STRUGGLE IS REAL. Immediately after I had my son in April 2015 at 18, my OBGYN recommended I go right into BC. I tried the depo shot for 3 mos to see how the hormones would sit and thought it wouldn't be so bad after all if I went for the NEXPLANON implant. Almost 3 years later I am so over this nightmare. I had cosmetic surgery (lipo, fat transfer, bbl, and implants) and weighed a good 132 lbs. 11 months after having my birth control in. I exercised and was able to maintain my weight.. even though I struggled to get back to my pre baby weight of 125 I thought maybe all I needed was a diet change and more commitment in the gym. Of course before all this mess and before having gotten pregnant I ate whatever I felt like, no clue what the gym was, drank alcohol (do not judge me for these bad choices-you don't know me gf), and life was good. The next year and a half I seriously couldn't get a clue of how it was possible for me to continuously gain weight. I minded what I ate, I worked out vigorously, I didn't have any bad vices like drinking. WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON. It never occurred to me to go to Google and even think just maybe it was my BC. I mean at this point what else could it be.. I love the gift of common sense and to me the only thing that really did start to make sense was that these hormones were starting to get the best of me. I am blessed to have found all these sisters who share this common problem with me cause boy did I feel out of place. I TOOK IT OUT 9 DAYS AGO in Mexico and it's the best thing I've ever done. I'm young and I'm married.. and the sex.. let. me. tell. you.. Even though I've had to switch to condoms I'm having the same mindblowing sex me and my man had since before the 4 years of having been pregnant and getting on contraceptives. Sorry for being a lil outspoken but that's what we're here for ladies. REAL stories. REAL experiences. Aside from that.. I don't eat the crap I'd always crave or eat past my limit. I can barely eat my portions and I just feel AMAZING. This gives me more hope to finally lose weight. WHAT BROKE ME AND MADE ME BREAK UP WITH THIS EASY WAY OUT OF NOT GETTING PREGNANT WAS GAINING 26 LBS THAT CREEPED UP ON ME THESE LAST FEW MONTHS. I have already lost 6 lbs in less than 2 weeks. my goal is 20 more.. I do plan on having another baby soon, but I dont want to have to burden myself with my baby's weight and the uneccessary weight that these hormones brought on me. I will keep you all updated. PROVE ALL YOU NEGATIVE COMMENTERS WRONG ABOUT THE NEXPLANON NOT BEING THE CAUSE OF THIS WEIGHT GAIN. The same doctor who removed it recommended to have it removed if I wanted to lose weight. Sooooo... see y'all in a couple months babes.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Update:
    I had my implanon removed on May 7th, 2018 and I have already lost 5lbs as of today. I could not loose a single pound while I had the implanon, and even put on weight. I am doing the same amount of exercise and eating and I finally manage to loose some weight. IT WAS THE IMPLANON! No one can tell me otherwise. I am also less bloated and I have more energy.

    Yes you are correct it was the Implanon that you can blame for that 5lbs you just lost and the bloat. Any form of "HORMONAL" birth control causes water retention in most woman...

    But it won't make you keep fat or gain it without excess calories. If you lose weight and your clothing becomes loose than you are retaining less fluid most likely.

    Birth control itself cannot create fat nor can it create weight other than water weight and bloat.
  • Jasminenathan9
    Jasminenathan9 Posts: 1 Member
    I’ve had the implanon in for 6 Years ( back to back ) I was small when I first got on it ( active in sports and just working out ) I’ve gained weight since . I got the removal June 2018 . Before removal I weight 193 pounds . As of August 2 2018 I weight 174 pounds 😳 I’ve also been stressed , appetite has changed , I can go almost 2 days without eating , but I must add I may also be pregnant .
  • Lgoodrick
    Lgoodrick Posts: 3 Member
    I got nexplanon after my twins were born I. December 2016. When I came home from the hospital I weighed 168, I now weigh 190 depsite constant diet and exercise. And no thyroid problems or anything.

    I have an appointment to get mine out later this month.
  • DiamondCookies
    DiamondCookies Posts: 93 Member
    I had Nexplanon for 2 years and got it removed about a year and a half ago. I found that while I could still lose weight on Nexplanon, it was much more difficult and I would plateau more frequently and longer than without it. I also retained more water weight on average with Nexplanon. I definitely gained weight while on it but it was more from my terrible diet than the birth control itself.

    I got rid of it because it made my anxiety and emotions almost uncontrollable, and after a month long plateau and constant headaches I had it.
  • jeanap27
    jeanap27 Posts: 1 Member
    Hi ladies! All of these answers are confirming my theory. I've been on Nexplanon for almost the 3 year mark (two months shy). I have been seeing a personal trainer, work out at least 3 hours a week on a slow week, am very conscious of what I eat and the only thing I can think of getting in the way of my personal weight loss goals is my birth control. Especially since I had been dropping pounds regularly when I got the implant to begin with.

    My question to everyone though that hasn't come up (granted, I haven't had time to read ALL of the answers) - Those that have had the Nexplanon removed and have lost weight, have you gone on any other forms of birth control or have you simply quit altogether?
    I'm getting mine removed in a little over a week and I'm really debating between quitting altogether or trying the nuvaring for a few months.

    Someone please help! I've been researching this everywhere.
  • KathGrace92
    KathGrace92 Posts: 2 Member
    I just got my implant out Tuesday (8/28) and it’s now Sunday. I’ve lost four pounds in five days. Bloating is gone, less anxiety, I don’t feel hungry all the time anymore!

    Before implant I was 135
    Two years after implant was placed my highest weight got to 167.
    With intense working out and dieting I got down to 161 but the rest of the weight wouldn’t budge.
    Now I’m at 157 just by removing the implant.

    Currently taking a “detox” from all these hormones and plan on getting an IUD next month.
  • jteeva
    jteeva Posts: 1 Member
    edited September 2018
    I have been on Nexplanon for 5.5 years I got it inserted shortly after high school. Nexplanon is not responsible for my weight gain but has made weight loss impossible.
    I was 175lbs when I started and was 267lbs the morning before removal.
    My lifestyle changed and I am sure metabolism changed. But I am constantly hungry, it doesn't matter what I eat or how much I never stop feeling hungry.

    I had the implant removed Tuesday (9/4) as of this morning the scale is reading 263lb. Probably just water retention loss but I will take anything at this point.

    I will update you as more time passes.
  • Janine810
    Janine810 Posts: 9 Member
    It’s so nice to read this forum as I thought it was all in my head with struggling to lose weight and other side affects. I eat a calorie controlled diet of about 1200cals per day. I follow slimming world meals. Which I mainly have these meals with veg or salad. I work out nearly everyday, most days twice. And I still think the scales should be lowering. But they stay the same. I watch my friends follow similar diets but are less strict and have lost nearly two stone. I have other side effects such as loss of sex drive (this is non existent and I did have a high one - sorry. TMI) also hair loss, mood swings. My husband says I’m bipolar. I am/was the happiest person I know. But wow he’s started getting under my skin (he could just be a *kitten* 😂)
    I had my Implant taken out yest as I wanted to be free of anything not natural in my body to try sort my own hormone levels out.
    I can’t 100% say it is the implant that is causing all these side effects. But at least I’m free of any kind of drugs that are getting pumped into my body. And hopefully things will change. If not, then I’ll have to take it from there. Until then. Wish me luck 😊
  • pinkkatmilk
    pinkkatmilk Posts: 43 Member
    Ive had an implanon in for the last 3 years. In that time ive lost a little over 46 kilos.
    I can assure you the weightloss had nothing to do with the implanon and everything to do with exercising and diet.
  • MrsG85
    MrsG85 Posts: 2 Member
    I feel like the total opposite of most ladies here. I had the implanon in July 2017. I was 70kgs and dropped to 59kgs. I had it removed end of August 2018 (weight was stable at 59/60kgs) now 6 weeks later I'm 62kgs? Same food and exercise. Not sure if it's removing it or what. I feel heavier and alot more exhausted in general. So weird?!
  • MrsG85
    MrsG85 Posts: 2 Member
    I had the implanon in July 2017 (I was 70kgs). I drop down to 59kgs and maintained it with eating well and exercising. I had the implanon removed end of August and 6 weeks later am now weighing in at 62kgs. Haven't changed my diet or exercise. I actually feel heavy and really exhausted all the time. Weird?!
  • greyparks206
    greyparks206 Posts: 165 Member
    edited October 2018
    I've had an implant for almost six years now. I started a serious effort to lose weight and get fitter this past December. Since that time, I've lost just under 48 pounds.
  • mherrera15
    mherrera15 Posts: 1 Member
    I wanted to put in my 2 cents.

    I got my implant back in feb 2015 after having back to back pregnancies (2014 had my son and 2015 my daughter). Throughout both pregnancies I knew I would gain weight and I did choose to loose my self control with watching my weight. Yet, despite that horrible decision I never went over 163lbs. those full 2yrs I had gained all those extra pounds with my son I stayed 163 the whole time I was pregnant with my daughter.

    it’s been 3 yrs and 7 month not once did I bame my implant for gaining all the weight. I even went back in April to get another one for my 3 yrs had already flew by. I gain weight for my own choices. But, I think that the implant has something to do with retaining and gaining weight cause I ate waaaaaay more food while pregnant. More junk food not really watching what went down those times, more like over indulged :). finally noticed looking in the mirror that it was time I wanted to lose the weight. I have a high metabolism so losing weight had been easy for me. I will say I have been border line vegaterian my whole life I ate to nourish my body so I thought no problems I got this!! -___- since 8/20/17 to this day I have had little results always lost 3 to 4 lbs but have always gained more than lost I’m at my highest 179 lbs. I have decreed my food intake started working out, my job is a active pyshical one and my diet is a healthy one. Mind over matter choosing to change my life style to loose the weight is my goal in mind. Making better eating habits and life style change and It did not work for me.

    I asked why what changed? Long story short I believe we should all have the benifit of the doubt. I believe that the implant has a role to play we all have different bodies and in my experience it effected me bad. So key point I noticed with my implant 1) my body now does not want to function the way it did before, so really I don’t know it. 2) my mentally has been a roller coaster. 3) it is making harder for me to loose weight it’s impeding. I’m not blaming it all on the implant but it is the only thing that has changed in my life.

    So I’m experimenting I getting it taken out Nov. 30th. I will not use any other BC, I will not change anything from my routine, and will keep track. I know ppl are saying the implant isn’t to blame. It’s not but I can’t help wondering if it can cause a different reaction in our bodies. That could show in weight gain, depression etc. think about it all women get some type of depression during pregnancies couldn’t a hormonal BC make it worse?? I believe anything that isn’t made from your body will affect your body. Too much of a good thing is probably TOO much of a good thing. So no periods, no cramping, no possibility of getting prego. Come on what’s it really doing to us??

    I’ll keep coming in every 6 months to keep you interested folks updated. And to all who will make me believe I’m a horrible person that puts the “Blame” solely on the implant be aware I will not write back to ya. Just talking to those who are looking to see if it’s true or not.
    Removal= weight loss. yes to loose weight is not just one thing it’s a combination of a lost of little things mostly food and exercise. Do not feel free to lecture me on if I’m doing it wrong. I already researched on what is more beneficial to me. This is the last thing I’m removing from my life. for in my conclusion it IS impeding my goals.
  • ghudson92
    ghudson92 Posts: 2,061 Member
    I had an implanon inserted when I was 20, so, almost 7 years ago. I gained so much weight (despite barely eating at the time), had horrendous anxiety, and my periods stopped. I lasted two years before I told them to take it out. Two summers ago I decided to stop using birth control altogether as I have tried everything available and react horribly to them all. My fiancé and I now use condoms and everything is better.. My moods are stable, my bloating is limited to TOM as it should be, my periods are regular as clockwork and the sex is outstanding.
  • Amerane
    Amerane Posts: 136 Member
    edited November 2018
    I've used both Depo (3 years) and am now on my second year of Nexplanon and Depo. Hormonal contraceptives can cause changes in appetite. For me personally, it was way worse with Depo. YMMV, but I don't really get the same "period hunger" on Nexplanon and it's been a blessing, most likely since Nexplanon is a lower dose progesterone and very gradual compared to Depo. I've gained weight (and lost it, and gained a little back) since starting both forms of contraception, but I log accurately and measure food by weight so I know that when I gain weight instead of lose it, it's because of overeating.

    Was my overeating influenced by hormonal contraception? Yes.

    Was the hormonal contraception the cause of my weight gain? No, because I chose to overeat.

    Was I able to lose weight using hormonal contraception? Yes, got to my goal weight then stopped many of the good habits I developed and gained a bit of it back.

    I think many of y'all might be underestimating a) how much that hormonal hunger and subsequent overeating may be throwing you off your calorie goal, particularly if your logging isn't water-tight, b) how few calories can stop or slow weight loss for people of our (generally shorter) height, c) how much water weight and water retention due to hormones masks weight loss, and d) how much changes in mood can effect adherence to diet/exercise regimes. I don't recall ever seeing a study that said progesterone will significantly decrease your metabolism, so it's far more likely that the known effects (ie water retention, hormonal hunger, changes in mood that affect diet and exercise) are what's effecting your weight loss journey. Those known effects can be overcome with careful planning and management, although it can be very hard for some people (myself included, at least while on Depo).

    That being said, there are many forms of BC available so if you're not happy with the side effects of one, definitely try a different method. Every body is different and what's manageable for one person can be unmanageable for another.
  • sonnshine27
    sonnshine27 Posts: 13 Member
    I track and weigh everything I eat and do the same exercise (run twice, climb once, lift three and track intensity with my Fitbit), week before nexplanon I lose a kilo, week after I put on one and bloating/muscle definition is obviously worse.... Hated it, if you are fine with the mini pill (I was) stick with it if not try something with less hormones especially if you are going to stick it inside your body 😅
  • KathGrace92
    KathGrace92 Posts: 2 Member
    I have lost almost 17 lbs since removing Nexplanon. I had an IUD placed after it’s removal and am continuing to lose the weight. :)