According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a birth control implant can safely and effectively serve as a contraceptive method for three years after it is initially inserted. After those three years, the FDA recommends that it be removed or replaced. If the birth control implant is inserted within the first five days of your period, the implant should be immediately effective at protecting you from pregnancy. Otherwise, you should use another birth control method for one week after the birth control implant insertion.