Depo-Provera

What is Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera is a shot for women that prevents pregnancy. It uses a man-made form of the female hormone progesterone. (Progesterone is one of the hormones used in birth control pills.) After a shot of Depo-Provera, the high level of progesterone in the body prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg for the next 3 months. If the ovaries do not release an egg, you cannot become pregnant. The hormone also changes the lining of the uterus, which helps prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. Less than 1% of women using Depo-Provera become pregnant.

How is it used?

Every 3 months your health care provider will give you a shot of Depo-Provera. The shot is usually given in a muscle of the upper arm or buttock within 5 days after the start of your menstrual period.

The timing of the shot after you have had a baby depends on whether you are breast-feeding. If you are breast-feeding, you should wait until 6 weeks after the birth to get the shot. Use other forms of birth control, such as condoms or spermicides, during these 6 weeks.

If you are not breast-feeding, you should get your shot within 5 days after the birth.

What are the benefits?

Some of the benefits of Depo-Provera are:

It is one of the most reliable forms of birth control.
Protection against pregnancy starts 24 hours after the shot.
There are no pills to take or devices to insert, and there is no interruption of sex.
It can be used by women who are breast-feeding.
Depo-Provera does not contain estrogen. It can be used by women who cannot take birth control pills because of the risk of cardiovascular problems from the estrogen in the pills.

Because eventually you may stop having menstrual periods while you are taking Depo-Provera, this method of birth control has other benefits, such as:

You are less likely to become anemic.
You may no longer have a heavy menstrual flow or painful periods.

What are the disadvantages, side effects, and risks?

At first, the increased level of progesterone in your body may cause irregular menstrual bleeding or spotting. Gradually, as your shots continue, you will stop having periods. After you stop getting the shots, your menstrual periods will begin to return to normal.

If you decide to have a baby, it may take you at least a year to conceive after the last shot. Consider using Depo-Provera for birth control only if you know you don't want to get pregnant for at least a year.

Many women have no problems while using Depo-Provera. However, the following side effects have been reported by some women, and you should watch for them:

weight gain
headaches
nervousness
abdominal or back pain
breast pain
weakness or fatigue
dizziness
acne
fluid retention (swelling)
decreased sex drive
depression
nausea
insomnia.

Other cautions associated with Depo-Provera are:

This medicine may decrease the amount of calcium in your bones. This may increase your risk of osteoporosis and broken bones. Your provider may tell you take calcium and vitamin D to lessen the loss of calcium from your bones. If you need birth control for more than 2 years, your health care provider may suggest another birth control method or ask you to have bone density tests.
Depo-Provera does not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS. Latex or polyurethane condoms are the only safe way to protect against AIDS.
If you have diabetes, Depo-Provera may cause a mild increase in your blood sugar. This may require a change in the amount of medicine you take for diabetes. Check with your health care provider about this.
If you have a history of depression and are taking Depo-Provera, your provider will watch you closely for signs of depression. You may need to get help from a counselor and stop getting the shots if your depression recurs.

Who should not use Depo-Provera?

You should not use Depo-Provera if you have the following medical history or conditions:

unexplained vaginal bleeding
cancer of the breast
blood clots or stroke
liver disease
allergy to the hormone in Depo-Provera
severe depression
severe asthma
known or suspected pregnancy (If you discover that you were pregnant at the time you got a shot, tell your health care provider as soon as possible.).

When should I call my health care provider?

Call your health care provider if:

You have an allergic reaction to the medicine (trouble breathing, itching, skin rash, or redness).
You find that you were pregnant at the time of a shot or if you become pregnant within 3 months of a shot.
You have side effects that continue or get worse.
You want to change to a different birth control method.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File FMY4311F.HTM Release 9.0/2006