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Sexual Health Centre
Birth Control |
Depo-Provera
Injections
Depo-Provera is an injection of
a hormone called progestin. It is similar to the body's natural hormone
progesterone. Depo Provera injections prevent a woman's ovaries from releasing
eggs. Depo-Provera is more than 99 percent effective and is generally considered
the most effective reversible method of birth control. Used alone, it doesn't
protect you against sexually
transmitted infections.
How Depo-Provera
is Administered
Injections of Depo-Provera are
given every 12 weeks to prevent pregnancy. You can get these shots from
a doctor or clinic. Women who have a Depo-Provera injection must not be
pregnant at the time of the first injection. To avoid this, it is best to
have the first injection:
- in the first five days of
your menstrual period
- within five days of an abortion
- within five days of giving
birth
If you do not have the injection
at one of these times, you should use another method of birth control as
back-up for two full weeks so you don't get pregnant. Depo-Provera is safe
when you are breast-feeding.
Most women have some irregularities
in the menstrual bleeding after starting Depo- Provera injections. Periods
often stop altogether after six to twelve months using Depo-Provera .
The effects of Depo-Provera can last for some time after you choose to
stop the injections, as it takes some time for the hormone to clear out
of your system. While most women get their periods within 6 months of
their last injection, some women take up to two years to get their periods
back.
Advantages
- women who have health conditions
that prevent them from taking birth control pills can often take Depo-Provera
- very effective at preventing
pregnancy
- you don't have to interrupt
sex
- the woman controls this
method of birth control
- you don't have to remember
a daily pill
- very safe
Disadvantages
- you are not protected against
sexually transmitted infections
- you may have irregular menstrual
bleeding or more frequent bleeding
- you must return to the clinic/doctor
every 12 weeks for your injection
- you may experience side
effects (see below)
- women with some medical
conditions cannot use Depo-Provera (Women should not use this method
if they have abnormal vaginal bleeding, liver diseases such as jaundice
or hepatitis, or breast
cancer.)
- while unlikely, you may
not be able to get pregnant for up to two years after using Depo-Provera
Side Effects
Some women who use Depo-Provera
experience side effects. If these side effects interfere with your life
you may wish to consider other methods of birth control. Women on Depo-Provera
may experience:
-
irregular menstrual bleeding
or more frequent periods (Most women have no periods at all after 6-12
months.)
-
weight gain of more than two
pounds each year when Depo-Provera is used (This weight gain may continue
for a number of months after you stop using Depo-Provera.)
- headaches
- breast tenderness
- bloating
- depression
- unwanted hair or hair loss
Large studies have not shown any
link between Depo-Provera use and breast cancer but research is still being
done in this area. Researchers are also studying whether Depo-Provera can
decrease a woman's
bone mineral density increasing her risk of osteoporosis.
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