Found this in my girls arm still trying to figure out what it is
Contraceptive implant
The contraceptive implant (Nexplanon) is a small flexible plastic rod.
If implanted correctly, it’s more than 99% effective. Fewer than 1 in 1,000 people who use the implant as contraception for 3 years will get pregnant.
It’s placed under the skin of your upper arm by a doctor or nurse to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Contraceptive implant
How the implant works
The implant prevents pregnancy by releasing progestogen which:
prevents you from releasing an egg (ovulating)
makes it difficult for sperm to get to an egg
thins the womb lining, so there’s less chance an egg will attach to it
When it starts to work
You can have the implant put in at any time during your menstrual cycle, as long as you’re not pregnant.
If it’s put in during the first 5 days of your cycle, you’ll be protected against pregnancy.
If it’s put in on any other day of your menstrual cycle, you should use additional contraception such as condoms for 7 days.
After giving birth
You can have the contraceptive implant fitted any time after you’ve given birth.
If it’s fitted on or before day 21 after the birth, you’ll be protected against pregnancy.
If it’s fitted after day 21, you’ll need to use additional contraception such as condoms for 7 days.
It’s safe to use the implant while you are breastfeeding.
After a miscarriage or abortion
The implant can be fitted immediately after a miscarriage or an abortion. You’ll be protected against pregnancy straight away.
How is the contraceptive implant fitted or removed?
Local anaesthetic is used to numb the area on the inside of your upper arm.
The implant is inserted under your skin. It only takes a few minutes to put in and feels like you’re having an injection. You don’t need stitches after having your implant fitted.
It works for 3 years before it needs to be replaced. You can use the contraceptive implant until you reach the menopause.
The implant can be removed at any time by a doctor or nurse. It only takes a few minutes to remove and local anaesthetic will be used. Your doctor or nurse will make a small cut in your skin to pull the implant out.
Once your contraceptive implant has been removed, you’ll no longer be protected against pregnancy.
Your implant is usually removed by the service or practice where it was fitted. If this is not the case, your GP or sexual health service can tell you where implant removal is provided in your area.
Who can use the implant?
Most women can use the contraceptive implant, however it might not be suitable for some people. Your doctor or nurse will talk about this with you.
You should not use the implant if you:
do not want your periods to change
take other medicines that may affect the implant
have unexplained bleeding in between periods or after sex
have severe liver disease
have breast cancer or have had it in the past
have a medical condition that may affect which contraception you can use – talk to your doctor or nurse about this
What if I’m taking other medicines?
Some medicines can stop the implant from working.
These include:
medication for HIV
medication for epilepsy
complementary remedies, such as St John’s Wort
some antibiotics, such as rifabutin or rifampicin
If you’re taking any of these medicines, you’ll need additional contraception. You may wish to change your form of contraception to one that isn’t affected by your medication.
Always tell your doctor that you’re using an implant if you’re prescribed any medicine.
Side effects of the contraceptive implant
The contraceptive implant may cause side effects. You should consider these carefully before deciding if it’s right for you.
Disrupted periods
Your periods may change significantly while using a contraceptive implant. Around 20% of people using the implant will have no bleeding, but almost 50% will have infrequent or prolonged bleeding. Bleeding patterns often remain irregular.
If the bleeding is a problem speak to your GP, nurse or sexual health service for advice.
Other side effects
Other side effects that some people report are:
headaches
acne
feeling sick (nausea)
breast tenderness
mood changes
These side effects usually stop after the first few months. If you have prolonged or severe headaches or other side effects, tell your doctor.
Benefits of using the implant
Some benefits of the contraceptive implant are that:
it works for 3 years
it does not interrupt sex
the implant is an option if you can’t use contraception containing oestrogen such as the combined pill, contraceptive patch or vaginal ring
you don’t have to remember to take a pill every day
it’s safe to use while you are breastfeeding
your fertility should return to normal as soon as the implant is removed
after the contraceptive implant has been inserted, you should be able to carry out normal activities
Risks of the implant
Sometimes the area of skin where the implant has been fitted can become infected. If this happens, the area will be cleaned and may be treated with antibiotics.
Speak to your GP practice if:
you can’t feel your implant
the implant feels like it’s changed shape
you notice any changes to your skin or feel any pain around where the implant is fitted
you become pregnant
Where can you get the implant?
You can get the contraceptive implant for free from:
sexual health services
GP practices that provide contraception
If you’re under 16
Anyone can get contraception for free in Scotland, even if you’re under 16.
If you’re under 16, they might encourage you to tell your parents, but you do not have to.
The only time a professional might need to tell someone else is if they think you’re at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious. They’d usually talk about it with you first.
I Found a Strange Metal Object in My Husband’s Pocket and My Mind Immediately Went Somewhere Dark
I was just doing laundry.
That’s literally how it started.
I grabbed my husband’s pants from the basket, checked the pockets like I always do, and felt something hard tucked deep inside. At first, I thought it was loose change or maybe a screw from the garage. But when I pulled it out, I froze for a second.
It didn’t look ordinary.
The object was metallic, heavy for its size, with a sharp tapered end and a threaded base that looked intentionally designed. Not broken. Not random. Purposeful. The kind of thing that instantly makes your brain start filling in blanks before logic even has a chance to step in.
And honestly, my imagination spiraled fast.
I stood there in the laundry room staring at it while every possible scenario ran through my head. Was it part of something dangerous? Was it connected to some secret hobby? Was there something my husband hadn’t been telling me?
The worst part was his reaction when I asked him about it.
He barely reacted.
He shrugged and casually said he had no idea how it got there.
That should’ve calmed me down, but somehow it did the opposite. His indifference made the whole thing feel even stranger. If he didn’t know what it was, then why was it in his pocket? And if he did know, why act so unconcerned?
For the next hour, I couldn’t let it go.
I sat there turning the object over in my hands like some detective trying to solve a case. The metal felt cold and strangely precise, almost industrial. I kept noticing little details that made it seem more mysterious. There was a faint scratch near the tip. The threading looked deliberate. Every tiny feature fed my paranoia a little more.
At some point, I realized I wasn’t just examining the object anymore.
I was examining my entire marriage through it.
It’s strange how quickly the mind can build stories out of silence. One unexplained thing becomes evidence. A vague answer becomes suspicion. Privacy suddenly starts looking like secrecy.
And the longer I sat there alone with my thoughts, the worse the stories became.
Then everything changed because of one tiny detail.
I held the object closer to the light and noticed faint markings engraved near the base. I squinted, trying to read them properly, and suddenly it clicked.
It was an archery field point.
A practice tip for an arrow.
Not a weapon. Not evidence of betrayal. Not some hidden criminal secret.
Just a piece of sports equipment.
The entire mystery collapsed instantly.
But weirdly, relief wasn’t the first emotion I felt.
It was embarrassment.
Deep embarrassment.
Because while I had been mentally building entire conspiracy theories in my head, my husband had apparently just picked up a quiet little hobby he never really talked about. Something peaceful. Something private. Something that probably helped him unwind from daily stress.
And I had somehow transformed it into proof that something terrible was happening behind my back.
Sitting there holding that now harmless little piece of metal, I realized how dangerous assumptions can become when fear takes over before communication does.
Sometimes the scariest stories aren’t the ones other people hide from us.
They’re the ones we secretly create ourselves.
One unanswered question. One strange object. One moment of silence. And suddenly the people we love start looking unfamiliar through the lens of our own insecurity.
That tiny archery tip ended up teaching me something far bigger than what it actually was.
Trust can unravel surprisingly fast when imagination replaces conversation.
