The contraceptive implant in the Philippines

Key facts

How effective

99.9% in typical use (0.1 pregnancies per 100 users a year) ^[src]

How long it lasts

3 years (label), for both Implanon NXT and Levoplant

Free

At barangay health centers, RHUs, DOH hospitals, POPCOM and Likhaan, subject to supply ^[src]

PhilHealth package

About ₱3,000 at accredited facilities ^[src]

Private clinic

From ₱5,000; one BGC clinic lists ₱10,500 ^[src]

Who puts it in

Inserted by a trained doctor, nurse or midwife

Prices checked October 2026. Private prices vary a lot by clinic, so ask for the all-in fee.

How the implant works

The implant is a thin, flexible rod about the size of a matchstick. It sits just under the skin on the inner side of your upper arm and slowly releases a progestin hormone. That hormone mainly stops your ovaries from releasing an egg and thickens the mucus at the cervix so sperm cannot get through ^[src]. There is no estrogen in it, so it suits many people who cannot take the combined pill.

Once it is in, there is nothing to remember for 3 years. That is why it works so well in real life: there is no pill to forget and no shot to be late for. It does not protect against STIs, so use condoms as well if that is a concern ^[src].

What happens at the visit

1. The provider asks about your health, your last period and whether you could be pregnant.
2. They clean your arm and give a numbing injection.
3. The rod goes in through a needle-like applicator. No stitches. It takes a few minutes.
4. You get a small bandage and a card with the insertion date. Keep it, or log it in the implant and IUD date tracker.

When are you protected? WHO says that if the implant goes in within 7 days of the start of your period, you need no backup. If it goes in at any other time, use condoms or avoid sex for the next 7 days ^[src]. Your provider may follow the product label instead, so ask which rule applies to you. The when am I protected tool explains the general rules.

Implanon NXT vs Levoplant

Two implants are used in the Philippines. Both last 3 years by label and both are very effective.

Implanon is the implant used by DOH and POPCOM programs, and Levoplant is marketed by DKT ^{[src] [src]}. You usually get whichever one the facility has in stock. Both work the same way and have similar side effects.

Why some people remember an implant "ban"

In June 2015 the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order that stopped DOH from distributing implants and stopped the FDA from renewing many contraceptive registrations. The order was later clarified to cover Implanon and Implanon NXT. In November 2017 the FDA declared all 51 contested products non-abortifacient, and DOH said the order was effectively lifted ^[src]. Implants are available again through DOH, POPCOM and Likhaan.

Where to get the implant and what it costs

Free

• Barangay health centers and RHUs. DOH says implants are free at public facilities ^[src]. Supply varies, so call ahead. PhilHealth is not required; bring a valid ID ^[src].
• DOH hospitals such as Fabella in Manila. An earlier report listed a small fee of ₱200 to ₱250 ^[src].
• POPCOM wellness clinic in Mandaluyong, which has offered free Implanon ^[src].
• Likhaan Center for Women's Health in Quezon City, Manila, Pasay and Bulacan. Filipinas on Reddit report getting free implants there, including at 18 and without children ^[src].

See all free options on the free birth control page.

PhilHealth

PhilHealth has an implant package for insertion by trained doctors, nurses and midwives at accredited facilities ^[src]. One guide puts the package at about ₱3,000 ^[src]. Ask the facility whether they are accredited and whether you will pay anything on top.

Private clinics

Private insertion is reported from about ₱5,000 ^[src], and some women's clinics charge more. Hati lists bookable implant insertion and removal through partner clinics (Hati). Ask whether the price includes the implant itself, the consult and the removal later.

"Nagkaanak ka na ba?" You do not need children first

One of the most common complaints from Filipinas is being asked if they have kids, then being turned away ^[src]. WHO's medical eligibility criteria say implants are suitable for people who have never given birth, including adolescents ^[src]. Being refused for having no children is one provider's practice, not the law.

If this happens to you, you can politely say you know WHO allows it and ask again, ask for another provider, or go to Likhaan, where Reddit users report being accepted without children ^[src].

Side effects: bleeding changes come first

"Hindi na ba magkakamens?" The most common effect of the implant is a change in your bleeding pattern ^[src]. You might get:

• Irregular bleeding or spotting (Light bleeding between periods. Common in the first months on a pill.) that comes and goes
• Longer bleeding, especially in the first months
• Very little bleeding, or no period at all

All of these are expected. No period on the implant is not harmful and does not mean blood is building up inside ^[src]. The pattern you have in the first 3 months often hints at what comes next, but it can change. If bleeding is very heavy or lasts a long time, go back to your provider; there are treatments that can help.

Other possible effects include headaches, breast tenderness, changes in acne and mood changes ^[src]. Bruising at the insertion site is normal and fades in a week or two. Track how you feel in the side effect tracker so you have something concrete to show your doctor. More on this in our side effects guide.

Removal and when fertility returns

You can have the implant removed any time, for any reason. Removal is done with a numbing injection and a tiny cut, and takes a few minutes ^[src]. Your fertility returns quickly after removal, with no lasting delay ^[src]. If you do not want to get pregnant, start another method right away, or ask for a new implant in the same visit.

Expired implant? You have the right to have it removed

Some Filipinas report that their barangay health center refused to remove an expired implant ^[src]. An expired implant does not become toxic. It simply stops protecting you well. You should be able to have it removed when you ask. If a health center says no, ask for a referral, or go to Likhaan, a DOH hospital or a private clinic that lists removal.

Myths about the implant

• "It causes abortion." No. It prevents an egg from being released. The FDA declared contested contraceptives, including implants, non-abortifacient in 2017 ^[src].
• "It makes you infertile." No. Fertility returns soon after removal ^[src].
• "You need to have kids first." No. WHO says people who have never given birth can use it ^[src].
• "No period means dirty blood is trapped inside." No. The hormone keeps the lining thin, so there is less to shed ^[src].
• "Expired implants are poisonous." No. They stop working, nothing more. Get it removed or replaced.

Test yourself on more myths in the myth or fact quiz.

Implant vs the pill

Pregnancies per 100 women in the first year of use. Source: WHO Family Planning Handbook comparison table (Trussell data, also used in the CDC effectiveness chart). ^[src] Price ranges come from our price list and include private clinic fees; public facilities are free, subject to supply.

The big difference is real-life use. With the pill, missed pills add up, so about 7 in 100 users get pregnant in a typical year. With the implant, it is fewer than 1 in 100 ^[src]. The pill can make periods more regular; the implant often makes them unpredictable. If you are torn, the find my method quiz and the effectiveness tool can help you compare before you talk to a provider.