How Long Does The Birth Control Implant Last? | 5-Year Facts

The birth control implant is built for busy lives. One small rod sits under the skin of your upper arm and does its job quietly in the background. Still, it has a hard time limit. If you know the date, you can book removal early, avoid gaps, and switch methods on your terms.

What The Implant Is And What “Lasts” Means

In the U.S., the common implant is a single rod that releases etonogestrel, a progestin. A clinician places it just under the skin on the inner side of the upper arm. It works mainly by stopping ovulation and thickening cervical mucus.

When someone asks how long it lasts, they might mean:

• Pregnancy prevention: the labeled time window.
• Hormone release: the rod releases hormone the whole time, with levels easing down year by year.
• Bleeding changes: periods may get lighter, less predictable, or stop.

The timeline that matters most is the labeled pregnancy-prevention window. Bleeding patterns are not a reliable way to judge “expiration.”

How Long Does The Birth Control Implant Last? By Brand And Timeline

If you have NEXPLANON in the United States, the current FDA-approved label says it works for up to 5 years and must be removed by the end of year five. FDA prescribing information for NEXPLANON uses that exact “remove by the end of the fifth year” wording.

In some countries, clinics may still follow older labeling that lists 3 years. Labels can update at different times in different places. If your clinic gave you an implant card, that card usually shows the insertion date and a replace-by date based on the protocol your clinic uses.

Start The Clock From The Insertion Date

Count from the day it was placed, not from your next period. If you can’t remember the date, your clinic can often pull it from your record.

What “Up To 5 Years” Means In Daily Life

Think of “up to” as a deadline. You stay covered through the labeled window when the implant is in place and correctly located. Past that date, treat it as expired contraception and use a back-up method until replacement.

Why Many People Now Hear “Five Years”

The implant was labeled for 3 years for a long time. Clinicians also tracked extended use in research settings, with pregnancy rates staying low past year three for many users. Over time, more data piled up, and the U.S. label changed.

If you want the clinician-facing timing rules for starting and switching, the CDC’s practice recommendations are a solid reference. CDC U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for implants lays out when back-up contraception is needed and how to avoid gaps when changing methods.

Timing Details That Can Save You From A Gap

Most users only need one date: insertion day plus the labeled number of years. A few common scenarios call for extra care.

If Your End Date Is Close And Appointments Are Tight

Many clinics book implant visits weeks out. If you’re within a few months of your end date, schedule now. If you can’t get in before the deadline, use a back-up method you control, like condoms, until you’re replaced.

If You’re Switching Methods

Overlaps prevent gaps. Some methods can be started before removal; others are started the same day. The exact plan depends on where you are in your cycle and what you’re switching to, so ask your clinician for a simple timeline you can follow.

If You Can’t Feel The Implant Under Your Skin

You should be able to feel the rod with a fingertip, like a thin matchstick. If you can’t feel it, don’t press hard trying to “find” it. Use back-up contraception until your clinic confirms its location. The FDA label lists imaging options clinicians use when palpation isn’t enough.

Table 1: broad, in-depth; placed after ~40%

Implant Duration And Planning At A Glance

What You’re Trying To Decide	Practical Answer	Date Or Trigger
How long a current U.S. NEXPLANON lasts	Use for up to 5 years; remove and replace by the end of year five.	Insertion date + 5 years
How to handle a region still using a 3-year label	Follow the label and clinic protocol tied to your device and country.	Insertion date + stated duration
How early you can remove it	Any time, for any reason.	Any day
How fast fertility can return after removal	It can return quickly; assume pregnancy is possible soon after removal.	Days to weeks
Whether bleeding changes mean it stopped working	No. Bleeding patterns change for many users while protection continues.	Track end date, not bleeding
What to do if you can’t feel the rod	Use back-up contraception until a clinician confirms location.	Right away
What to do if you’re near the end date and can’t get in	Use back-up contraception and book the first available slot.	Before end date
What a same-day replacement changes	Removal and reinsertion in one visit usually avoids a gap.	Replacement visit
What “radiopaque” means for your care	Clinicians can locate it with imaging if they can’t feel it.	If palpation fails

What Changes Over Time And What Doesn’t

Most people stop noticing the implant after the first week. Still, a few things can shift over months and years.

Bleeding Patterns Can Bounce Around

Spotting, longer gaps without bleeding, or unpredictable timing are all common. These shifts can happen early, settle, then change again later. A change in bleeding alone is not a sign the implant ran out.

Side Effects Can Come And Go

Some users notice acne, headaches, breast tenderness, or mood shifts. Others feel no change. If something feels new and intense, talk with a clinician so you can rule out other causes and choose a next step that fits you.

Removal And Replacement: What The Visit Is Usually Like

Removal is commonly quick. The clinician numbs the skin, makes a small opening, and slides the rod out. If you want a new implant, many clinics place it in the same visit. That can keep your contraception continuous.

After removal, fertility can return fast. If you don’t want pregnancy, start your next method right away, even if you plan to “decide later.”

Extended Use And Label Differences: Staying Safe With The Timing

With the 2026 FDA update, “extended use” in the U.S. now means staying within the 5-year label. In places where the label is still 3 years, you may hear clinicians mention research that supports longer use. That can be reasonable in some settings, but it needs clear dates and clear back-up rules so you’re not guessing.

If you want the clinical reasoning and counseling points behind long-acting reversible contraception, ACOG’s bulletin is a strong clinician resource. ACOG practice bulletin on implants and IUDs compiles evidence and common care patterns.

One paper that helped shape extended-use discussions tracked implant effectiveness past the original label. PubMed Central review of extended implant use summarizes the data in a way that’s readable even if you’re not in medicine.

Table 2: after ~60%

Replacement Timing Checklist

Situation	Where Gaps Happen	Simple Move
You’re within 3 months of the replace-by date	Clinic calendars fill up	Book the visit now
You can’t get an appointment before the end date	After the deadline passes	Use back-up contraception until replacement
You remove it and don’t want pregnancy	Fertility can return quickly	Start the next method the same day when possible
You’re switching to another method	Stopping one before the other is active	Ask for an overlap plan with exact dates
You can’t feel the implant under the skin	Unclear placement status	Use back-up contraception until location is confirmed
You want removal to try for pregnancy	No gap risk, but timing matters	Remove when you’re ready for pregnancy soon

Four Questions Worth Asking At Your Next Visit

• “What’s my insertion date and my replace-by date?”
• “If I’m switching methods, do I need overlap days or a back-up window?”
• “If I can’t feel the implant, what should I do right now?”
• “If bleeding gets annoying, what are my options while I keep the implant?”

Easy Ways To Track The Date So You Don’t Forget

• Put the insertion date and replace-by date in your phone calendar.
• Keep a photo of your implant card in a folder you can find fast.
• If you change clinics, ask them to copy the insertion note into your new chart.

One Takeaway To Hold Onto

The implant works for years, but it’s still a timed method. If you know your insertion date and your replace-by date, you can avoid gaps and choose your next step calmly. In the U.S., current labeling for NEXPLANON is up to 5 years, with removal by the end of year five. If your clinic follows a different label, follow that timeline and set replacement early enough that scheduling delays don’t push you past the deadline.