Book an appointment
Book an appointment

Can Implanon Cause Acne Or Skin Changes?

Woman looking at acne breakout on her face after starting hormonal contraception

Some women notice changes in their skin after starting Implanon. Hormonal contraception can influence oil production, which may affect acne, breakouts, or skin texture. While many people experience little change, others may notice flare-ups or improvements depending on how their body responds to the hormone released by the implant.

Starting a new hormonal contraceptive can sometimes bring changes that people do not expect. For some women using Implanon, this may include acne flare-ups, oilier skin, or occasional breakouts that were not present before.

Hormonal contraception affects several systems in the body, including the skin. While many people experience no noticeable change, others may become more aware of skin concerns after the implant is inserted.

Women exploring long-acting birth control often discuss implants during consultations about Brisbane Implanon insertion with a women’s health GP.

Why Hormones Can Influence The Skin

Skin health is closely linked to hormones, particularly androgens, which influence oil production in the sebaceous glands.

When oil production increases, pores may become blocked more easily. This environment can contribute to acne development in some individuals.

Hormonal shifts also play a role in many reproductive health conditions. Women who experience irregular cycles or hormone-related symptoms sometimes explore information about common menstrual health concerns and cycle irregularities during routine consultations.

Why Some Women Experience Acne After Implanon

The hormone released by Implanon is a type of progestogen called etonogestrel. In some people, progestogen can influence oil production in the skin.

This increase in sebum may contribute to:

  • Small hormonal breakouts
  • Acne around the chin or jawline
  • Oilier skin than usual

Other individuals may not notice any change, highlighting how differently bodies respond to hormonal contraception.

Hormonal balance can also influence other symptoms such as irregular bleeding patterns. Some patients become aware of these broader cycle changes when learning about why some women experience two menstrual cycles within a month.

When Acne Appears After Starting The Implant

If acne is related to hormonal changes, it often appears within the first few months after insertion.

This period is when the body is adjusting to the hormone released by the implant. Some women notice mild breakouts early on that gradually settle as the body adapts.

In other cases, acne may continue for longer and prompt questions about whether the implant is contributing to the change.

Some women already managing hormone-related conditions such as PCOS may discuss contraceptive options during consultations about managing PCOS and related menstrual symptoms.

Can Implanon Ever Improve Acne?

Although some women experience breakouts, others notice the opposite effect.

Hormonal contraception can sometimes stabilise hormone fluctuations that contribute to acne. When this occurs, breakouts may reduce or become less severe.

Skin changes can also vary depending on a person’s overall hormonal profile. For example, hormonal shifts that affect acne may also influence symptoms such as changes in menstrual bleeding patterns or period colour.

Other Skin Changes Some Women Notice

Acne is not the only skin change occasionally discussed after starting hormonal contraception.

Some people report:

  • Increased oiliness in the skin
  • Occasional hormonal breakouts around the jawline
  • Changes in skin texture

These changes are usually mild but may still be noticeable for people who previously had stable skin.

Because hormonal changes can affect multiple areas of health, some women also explore broader topics such as when period pain may indicate an underlying condition when discussing reproductive health symptoms with their doctor.

How Doctors Assess Hormonal Acne Concerns

When acne appears after starting a contraceptive implant, a GP may consider several factors.

These often include:

  • When the implant was inserted
  • Whether acne appeared before or after insertion
  • Existing hormonal conditions
  • Current skincare products or medications

This helps determine whether the skin change may be linked to hormonal contraception or another factor.

When It May Be Worth Discussing Skin Changes With A GP

Occasional breakouts are common and may settle as the body adjusts to hormonal contraception. However, some situations may warrant a review.

A consultation may be helpful if:

  • Acne becomes persistent or severe
  • Breakouts appear suddenly after insertion
  • Skin changes cause significant discomfort or distress
  • Other hormonal symptoms occur alongside acne

During a review, doctors may assess overall reproductive health and discuss whether the implant remains the most appropriate contraception choice.

Understanding That Hormonal Responses Differ

Hormonal contraception affects people differently. Some women notice cycle changes, others notice skin changes, and many experience minimal side effects.

Because each body responds uniquely to hormones, it can be helpful to view skin changes within the broader context of overall reproductive health.

Regular check-ups with a women’s health GP can help ensure contraceptive choices continue to align with personal health goals and changing life stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Implanon commonly cause acne?

Acne is listed as a possible side effect of hormonal implants, although many women do not experience noticeable skin changes. Hormonal responses vary between individuals.

When might acne start after the implant is inserted?

If acne is related to the implant, it may appear within the first few months as the body adjusts to the hormone released by the device.

Will acne go away if the body adjusts?

For some women, breakouts improve as hormone levels stabilise over time. Others may continue to experience acne and choose to discuss management options with their doctor.

Should the implant be removed if acne develops?

Removal is not always necessary. Decisions about contraception are individual and may involve discussing symptoms, overall health goals, and alternative options with a GP.

Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information about possible skin changes associated with hormonal contraception, including the Implanon implant. Hormonal responses vary between individuals, and not everyone will experience acne or skin changes. If you notice persistent or concerning skin symptoms after starting contraception, seek personalised advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Back to Blog

Take the first step towards better health

At Sirona Women’s Health, we’re dedicated to providing you with the personalised, high-quality care you deserve. Our experienced all-female clinic, serving Annerley and the Greater Brisbane area, is ready to listen, support, and empower you through every stage of your healthcare journey.

Book an appointment
What we do

INTRODUCTION

This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties. Our obligations are set under the Privacy Act 1988.

WHAT IS PRIVACY?

As an individual, the Privacy Act grants you enhanced authority over the management of your personal data. Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to:

  • Understand the purpose behind the collection of your personal data, its intended use, and who will have access to it.
  • Opt not to disclose your identity or to use an alias in specific situations.
  • Request access to your personal data, including health information.
  • Cease receiving unsolicited direct marketing communications.
  • Request correction of any inaccuracies in your personal information.
  • Lodge a complaint against an organization or agency covered by the Privacy Act if you believe they have mishandled your personal information.

WHY AND WHEN YOUR CONSENT IS NECESSARY

By becoming a patient at our practice, you grant consent for our general practitioners and practice personnel to access and utilize your personal data to deliver optimal healthcare services. Access to your personal information will be restricted to staff members who require it for your care. Should there arise a necessity to utilize your information for purposes beyond healthcare provision, we will obtain your explicit consent beforehand.

HOW CAN YOU LODGE A PRIVACY RELATED COMPLAINT AND HOW THE COMPLAINT WILL BE HANDLED AT OUR PRACTICE

We treat privacy-related complaints and concerns with utmost seriousness. We encourage you to communicate any privacy issues you may have in written form. Subsequently, we will endeavor to address and resolve them in accordance with our established resolution procedure. Complaints can be forwarded to our Practice Manager delivered to 1/720 Ipswich Road, Annerley 4103. You may also wish to have a confidential chat with our Practice Manager beforehand. Our Practice Manager can be reached by phoning our practice during business hours – Monday – Friday. All complaints are likely to be responded to and actioned within 2 business days.

WHY DO WE COLLECT, USE, HOLD AND SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

To deliver healthcare services effectively, our practice requires the collection of your personal information. Our primary objective in collecting, utilizing, storing, and managing your personal data is to oversee your healthcare needs. Additionally, we employ this information for associated business activities, including financial transactions, practice evaluations, accreditation processes, and operational functions such as staff training.

DEALING WITH OUT PRACTICE ANONYMOUSLY

You possess the right to engage with us anonymously or under a pseudonym, unless such actions are deemed impractical, or unless legal obligations or authorizations necessitate interaction solely with identified individuals.

WHAT TYPES OF INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

Your doctor relies on information regarding your past and present health to deliver quality care. Data pertaining to your health, medical history, or anticipated medical treatments is termed “personal health information” if it enables someone to identify you.

Our practice adheres to the Guidelines on Privacy in the Private Health Sector outlined by the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner. This commitment ensures the confidentiality and security of your personal health information.

We maintain a documented policy outlining the handling of your personal health information, which is accessible to all patients for review.

The information we collect encompasses:

  • Names, date of birth, addresses, and contact details
  • Medical details including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, immunizations, social history, family history, and risk factors
  • Medicare number (where available) for identification and claiming purposes
  • Healthcare identifiers
  • Health fund details

HOW WE COLLECT YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Our practice may gather your personal information through various channels:

  • During your initial appointment, our staff will collect your personal and demographic details as part of the registration process.
  • Throughout the provision of medical services, we may gather additional personal information.
  • Your personal information may also be obtained when you interact with us via our website, email, SMS, telephone calls, online appointments, or social media.
  • In certain situations, personal information may be sourced from other avenues, as it may not always be feasible or reasonable to collect it directly from you. This may involve information obtained from your guardian or responsible person, other healthcare providers involved in your care (such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services, pathology, and diagnostic imaging services), as well as pertinent information from your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs when necessary.

PRIVACY AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Our practice frequently receives communications via email, however in order to adhere to Australian Privacy Principals and ensure a more efficient and reliable service for our patients, we have transitioned away from email as our primary form of communication.

It’s important to note that our practice also does not engage in communication with patients via social media. We have implemented a social media policy to ensure adherence to professional standards. If you would like a copy of this policy, please inform our reception staff.

Our patients are still able to submit non-urgent enquiries via email or via our website however depending on the nature of the enquiry, should expect a 2 day turn around. For more urgent matters, we encourage our patients to phone our Practice during business hours – Monday-Friday.

Privacy is a priority for us, even on our website. Here’s how we ensure your privacy is respected:

  • Secure Connection: Our website is encrypted to protect your data when you interact with us online.
  • Limited Data Collection: We only collect necessary personal information on our website, and we’re transparent about what we collect and why.
  • Data Protection Measures: We employ robust security measures to safeguard any information you provide on our website from unauthorized access or misuse.
  • Third-Party Policies: If our website uses third-party services (like analytics or social media plugins), we ensure they also prioritize user privacy.
  • Cookie Policy: We inform you about our use of cookies and give you options to manage your preferences.
  • Clear Communication: We’re upfront about our privacy practices and provide easy-to-understand

WHERE WE STORE AND PROTECT PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

This practice utilizes electronic records for efficient management of patient information. Any physical documents such as specialist letters, X-rays, CT scans, and pathology results received via post are securely stored away from public view until they are scanned into our computer system. Once the necessary actions have been taken, these documents are securely destroyed following appropriate protocols.

To ensure the security of personal health information, our practice implements various measures including screen savers, passwords, anti-viral software, firewalls, regular data backups, and maintenance routines.

Your doctor is committed to maintaining the integrity of your medical record, ensuring that it is:

  • Accurate, comprehensive, well-organized, and legible
  • Up-to-date
  • Sufficiently informative for another healthcare provider to deliver care
  • Free of offensive or irrelevant remarks
  • Includes a summary of your care
  • Can be used, with your permission, to remind you of follow-up appointments, checkups, and reviews

Your doctor will only collect information that is pertinent to your medical care. If you have any concerns or questions regarding the information being requested, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor for clarification.

WHEN, WHY AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

We occasionally share your personal information in the following circumstances:

  • With third parties collaborating with our practice for business purposes, such as accreditation agencies or information technology providers. These third parties are obligated to adhere to the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and our privacy policy.
  • With other healthcare providers involved in your care.
  • When required or authorized by law, such as in response to court subpoenas.
  • In situations where it is necessary to mitigate or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health, or safety, or to public health or safety, or when obtaining the patient’s consent is impractical.
  • To aid in locating a missing person or to establish, exercise, or defend a legal claim.
  • For confidential dispute resolution processes.
  • When statutory requirements mandate sharing certain personal information, such as mandatory notification of certain diseases.
  • As part of providing medical services, including through electronic transfer of prescriptions and My Health Record.
  • When booking appointments online via Hotdoc.

Access to your information is restricted to individuals who require it for legitimate purposes. Outside of providing medical services or as outlined in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your written consent.

We will not disclose your personal information to entities outside Australia (except under exceptional circumstances permitted by law) without your written consent. Our practice will refrain from using your personal information for direct marketing of our goods or services without your explicit consent. If you do consent, you retain the right to opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing.

Your personal information may be utilized by our practice to enhance the quality of services we offer through research and analysis of patient data. We may provide de-identified data to other organizations to improve population health outcomes. This information is securely stored within Australia, and patients cannot be individually identified. If you prefer not to have your information included, please inform our reception staff.

HOW YOU CAN ACCESS AND CORRECT YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

You have the right to access the information contained in your medical record. We believe that sharing information fosters good communication between you and your doctor, promoting optimal healthcare.

Upon request, your doctor can provide you with an accurate and up-to-date summary of your care, such as when you are relocating and transitioning to a new healthcare provider. Feel free to ask your doctor for a summary of your care for any reason. If you request access to your full medical record or a summary, your doctor may need to redact any information provided by others on a confidential basis.

Your doctor must also consider the potential risk of physical or mental harm to you or others that could arise from disclosing your health information. While there are circumstances where access may be denied, you will be informed of the reasons if this occurs. In most cases, your doctor will gladly provide a thorough explanation of the health summary or medical record provided. Please note that a small but reasonable administration fee may be charged for such access, as well as the time spent with your doctor.

If you discover that the information in your record is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated, our practice will take reasonable steps to rectify it. We may periodically ask you to confirm that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. Additionally, you can request corrections or updates to your information by submitting written requests to our practice via email.

We do not recommend erasing information from your record, as this may lead to incomplete documentation.

POLICY REVIEW STATEMENT

This privacy policy undergoes regular review to ensure alignment with any changes that may arise. A copy of the most recent version of the privacy policy will always be accessible at the reception desk for your reference.

‎
Please write your details as they appear on your Medicare Card.
Birth Sex
I identify as
Pronouns
Marital Status
Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander decent?
Sirona Women’s Health acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work and pay our respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging.
Preferred contact method
I hold a current and valid
Colour
Do you consent to Sirona Women’s Health sending you SMS reminders for your upcoming appointments/clinical reminders?
I authorise Sirona Women’s Health to contact my NOK/ Emergency contact if needed.
Do you consent to Sirona Women’s Health contacting you via email?
I acknowledge that I have read and comprehend the practice privacy brochure (copy found on our website).
‎