WHAT ARE BIRTH CONTROL SHOTS?
Depo-Provera, is administered one every three months. It provides a hormone much like the progesterone a woman produces during the last 2 weeks of each monthly cycle. It stops the woman from releasing an egg and provides other contraceptive effects. Many clinics recommend that you use a backup contraceptive for a week after your first shot. Among typical couples who initiate use of Depo-Provera, about 3 in 100 will experience an accidental pregnancy in the first year. Complete information about this contraceptive is available from your clinician or from the package insert that is provided when you are given Depo-Provera injections.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
- Nothing must be taken daily or used at the time of sexual intercourse.
- Sex may be enjoyed more because of less fear of pregnancy.
- Depo-Provera is extremely effective. If women receive their injections right on time (every 3 months or 13 weeks), only 3 women in 100 will become pregnant in the course of one year.
- Women, including women with fibroids, lose less blood using Depo-Provera and have less menstrual cramping. Often after 5 injections women stop having periods. This is safe! Decreased risk of anemia.
- Privacy is a major advantage. No one has to know you are using this method.
- Nursing mothers can receive Depo-Provera injections. According to the World Health Organization, it's best to begin use after the baby is 6 weeks old, but most U.S. programs will provide Depo-Provera when a nursing mother leaves the hospital after delivery.
- It’s OK to start a new contraceptive if fewer than 13 weeks have passed since the last shot.
- Depo-Provera may improve PMS, depression and symptoms from endometriosis.
- Can prevent ectopic pregnancies, sicke cell crises and grand mal seizures.
- Unlike combined pills, Depo-Provera is not less effective if you take medicines that affect the liver.
- Decreased risk for cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer).
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES?
- Do NOT start this method of birth control unless you will find it acceptable to have your periods change. They WILL change a lot.
- Depo-Provera injections can lead to very irregular periods. If your bleeding pattern is bothersome to you, you can take medications which may give you a more acceptable pattern of bleeding.
- Some women gain weight. To avoid weight gain, watch your calories and get lots of exercise.
- Depo-Provera does not protect you from HIV or other infections. Use condoms if you are at risk.
- You must return to the clinic every three months for your injection.
- Depression and premenstrual symptoms may become worse.
- It may be a number of months before your periods return to normal after your last shot. It takes an average of 10 months for fertility to return after the last shot, making it hard to plan pregnancy exactly.
- Depo-Provera may lower your estrogen level and cause bone loss, although this is not certain. Get regular exercise and take extra calcium to protect your bones from osteoporosis.
- A few women are allergic to Depo-Provera. Fortunately, allergic reactions are very rare, but they occur, and the effects of the shot cannot be stopped once it is given. Such a woman may need anti-allergy medicine for several days to months.
- Depo-Provera is expensive in some healthcare settings.
- Increase in LDL (bad cholesterol) and decrease in HDL (good cholesterol) in some studies
WHERE CAN I GO TO GET STARTED USING DEPO-PROVERA SHOTS?
To your doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, health dept or Planned Parenthood.
Depo-Provera (104 SC subcutaneous each 3 months)
Subcutaneous - 104, subcutaneous injections of 104 me of DMPA facilitate women giving themselves Depo-Provera injections at home. Women receive up to 14 weeks of contraceptive protection from and injection of 104 mg of DMPA SQ.
Subcutaneous Depo-Provera
Despite the lower dose of Sub Q DMPA (104 vs 150 mg), no pregnancies occured amoung th 44% of study sujbects who were overweight (26%) or obese (18%). In fact, there were no pregnancies at all in 720 women over one year. 55% were amenorrheic at the end of one year. (Jain J, Jakimiuk AJ, et al, 2004)
You can go to your clinician or family planning clinic. Some clinicians are not familiar with emergency contraception. In this case, call the toll-free hotline: (1-888) NOT-2-LATE to obtain the phone numbers of clinicians near you who may be willing to insert an emergency IUD. Some of these sources of help are free. You can also go to this web site for additional information: www.opr.princeton.edu. PLAN B is the emergency contraceptive pill that causes the least nausea and the least vomiting. Emergency postcoital insertion of the Copper T 380 A IUD (ParaGard) is the most effective currently available postcoital contraceptive. | |
