The hormone stick: How does this contraceptive method work?
The hormone stick is one of the safest contraceptives. In a small operation, it is implanted under the skin and works for three years. Since it only contains progestin, the hormone stick is a real alternative for women who cannot tolerate the hormone estrogen.
What is a hormone stick?
The hormone stick resembles a matchstick. It is a very thin plastic stick several inches long. The hormone stick is pushed under the skin on the inside of the upper arm with the help of a fine hollow needle. This area will be given a local anesthetic beforehand.
In addition to the contraceptive stick, there are other hormonal contraceptives such as the pill , the hormone spiral or the vaginal ring that guarantee a high level of safety. Find out more about the different contraceptives in our “Contraception” section:
How does the hormone stick work?
Once inserted, the hormone rod continuously releases a small amount of the hormone etonorgestrel, which prevents ovulation and changes the lining of the cervix so that it is difficult for sperm to pass through. Etonorgestrel is a pure progestogen, so unlike many pill preparations, the hormone stick does not contain any estrogens. The contraceptive effect of the hormone stick lasts for three years. If you want to stop contraception with the stick, for example because you do not tolerate the stick or because you want a child, you can have it removed by your doctor at any time.
Since the hormone delivery of the stick is similar to that of the mini-pill, many doctors recommend testing the tolerability of the hormone etonorgestrel for several months before inserting the stick by taking the mini-pill.
What are the advantages of the hormone stick?
- Since the hormone stick only contains progestins, it is a good alternative to many estrogen-containing pill products if you do not tolerate the hormone estrogen or cannot take it because of significant health risks.
- Ingestion errors as with the pill are excluded. The risk of ingestion errors is even lower than with the vaginal ring because the rod remains permanently in the body. In this respect, the hormone stick resembles the hormone spiral.
- With a pearl index of 0 to 0.08, the stick is one of the absolutely safest contraceptives.
- Because the hormones enter the bloodstream through the skin, they bypass the gastrointestinal tract. In this way, the effectiveness is maintained even in the event of diarrhea or vomiting.
What are the disadvantages of the hormone stick?
- The hormone stick is one of the most expensive contraceptives. It costs between 300 and 350 euros.
- You may incur additional costs of up to 50 euros for the removal.
- The menstrual period often becomes irregular and bleeding between periods can occur.
- Some women also complain of breast tenderness, headaches, mood changes or sexual reluctance. In some cases, there is also difficulty in removing the rod, which can result in minor or major surgery.
How reliable is a hormone stick?
With an extremely low Pearl Index of 0 to 0.08 (number of 100 women who became pregnant despite this contraceptive method), the hormone stick is one of the safest contraceptives. However, as with other hormonal contraceptive methods, some medications such as broad-spectrum antibiotics, St. John’s wort, some antiepileptics and psychotropic drugs can reduce the contraceptive effectiveness of the rod. If you have to take medication, tell your doctor that you are using the hormone implant for contraception.