Q. What is Depo-Provera contraceptive injection?A. Depo-Provera is an injection that uses a synthetic hormone (as does the birth control pill) to prevent pregnancy. You get the injection from your doctor or other health care provider.
Q. How often do I have to get the injection?
A. Once every three months (13 weeks) — just four times a year.
Q. Where is the injection given? Does it hurt?
A. The injection is given in the buttocks or upper arm. Most women say it is not very painful. The injection site may be slightly sore
for a day or so.
Q. How soon does Depo-Provera become effective?
A. You must receive your first injection during the first five days of a normal menstrual period. When administered in this way, you are protected from pregnancy immediately after you receive the injection.
Q. Is Depo-Provera effective?
A. Depo-Provera is more than 99% effective, making it one of the most reliable methods of birth control available. You only need to remember to get your injection once every three months (13 weeks).
Q. Can any woman take Depo-Provera?
A. Most women can. However, there are some women who should not use it. Tell your health care professional if you think you might be pregnant or if you have had any unusual vaginal bleeding. Also tell your health care professional if you have a history of breast cancer, stroke, blood clots in your legs, or liver disease. Your doctor or other health care provider will advise you whether Depo-Provera is a good choice for you.
Q. What are the most common side effects from Depo-Provera?
A. Most women experience weight gain and irregular or unpredictable menstrual bleeding. After one year of use, many women will stop having periods altogether. Periods return within six to 18 months after you stop taking the injections. Having your periods stop because of Depo-Provera is not a medical problem. The reason your periods stop is because Depo-Provera causes a resting state in your ovaries. When your ovaries do not release an egg monthly, the regular monthly growth of the lining of the uterus does not occur, and so the normal menstrual bleeding does not occur. You may want to have all this explained by your doctor in more detail.
Q. Are there any other side effects?
A. Some women who use Depo-Provera could also have nervousness, dizziness, stomach discomfort, headaches, or fatigue. Also, the use of Depo-Provera may be associated with a decrease in the amount of mineral stored in your bones, which may be considered among the risk factors for the development of osteoporosis.
Q. What if I forget or can't come on time to get my three-month (13-week) injection?
A. It is important to get your birth control injections on time. Mark the date on your calendar to remind you when your next injection is due. It is also safe to have your injection several weeks early if your three-month date (13 weeks) is not convenient. If you wait longer than
three months (13 weeks) use another reliable form of birth control (e.g. condoms or spermicides) - or don't have sex until you get your injection.
Q. How soon can I get pregnant after I stop using Depo-Provera?
A. You can stop taking the injections at any time. Most women who become pregnant after stopping injections, do so within one year.
Q. Can I use Depo-Provera right after I have a baby?
A. New mothers who don't plan on breast-feeding can begin having injections right after childbirth, even before they go home from the hospital. Mothers who are breast-feeding can safely begin having shots six weeks after childbirth. The injections do not harm the baby or reduce the flow of breast milk.
Q. Will Depo-Provera protect me from HIV/AIDS and other diseases passed on by having sex?
A. No. Only a latex condom can provide protection from sexually transmitted diseases.
Q. What does Depo-Provera cost?
A. Depo-Provera costs about the same per year as the birth control pill.
