u/Konquer1334

So I had the implant inserted in December (2025), I noticed after maybe 4 months I would tear during sex with my bf which really worried both of us. I’m only just realising now that it wasn’t because I wasn’t aroused or hydrated enough, but because it’s hormonal birth control and it probably gradually thinned the surrounding skin, making it prone to tears 🥲

tmi but before the implant I didn’t need lube at all so I also struggled to recognise when I needed it during sex since it wouldn’t hurt in the moment - so I just kept tearing every few weeks 😬 (we don’t see eachother too often which has been good for me trying to heal, just would’ve helped if I’d known the cause sooner!!)

It might seem silly since as soon as I looked up topical estrogen creams it all pointed to hormonal birth controls as being a cause for women not going through menopause needing it (I’m 21) but I swear the NHS websites talking about the contraceptive implant don’t mention this upfront as a side effect 😭😭

Also I was sad when I found this subreddit to see how many people have had a negative experience, I’m sorry guys that’s a shame :(

I’ve put up with my periods being prolonged with at least three of my periods lasting full months and the site where I got the implant is always pretty itchy. But dryness has been something I’ve been really concerned about for ages, and the reason has been staring me in the face for so long
Anyways my gp has already approved me to have a topical cream that I can pick up tomorrow

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, early 20s

Hey guys I have heavy periods so oftentimes find myself being anaemic and have been turned away from donating twice, banned for 12 months each time I think to give me time to recover my iron levels.
I’ve given 3 whole blood donations in total with no issues, but I was wondering if it’s actually okay that I routinely take iron tablets to maintain my iron levels?

I couldn’t find anything on the NHS websites except for a little snippet on the NHS Wales site but since I give in Scotland I worry if I brought it up they wouldn’t be keen to take my donation. I just take 210mg of Ferrous Fumarate around twice a week sometimes less and have done for months, which hasn’t caused me any issues thus far although I’ve heard they can be harsh on the stomach

Surely it’s fine and I’m overthinking as I’m only taking them as maintenance and not because I have actually dangerously low iron levels rn