DEPO-PROVERA (THE BIRTH CONTROL "SHOT")
Depo-Provera is a hormonal contraceptive given by injection once every three months.
It's a reality that the responsibility of birth control still falls mostly on women. That's why it's smart to choose a method that's effective, reliable, and fits into your life.
DEPO-PROVERA is 99.7% effective, so it's one of the best ways to assure you won't get pregnant—until you want to. And it's one of the most convenient because you get an injection only 4 times a year.
DEPO-PROVERA is a great choice if your goals don’t include having children soon. So if your finishing school, starting out in your career or have finished having a family, but aren’t ready for the permanence of having your “tubes tied”, DEPO-PROVERA may be right for you.
Or perhaps you'd like to use a hormonal birth control but can't take one containing estrogen. (For example, if you smoke—any birth control containing estrogen, such as most pills, strongly warn against their use by smokers because it increases the risk of potentially serious side effects.) Since DEPO-PROVERA doesn't contain estrogen, there's no warning against its use if you smoke. Of course, all women are encouraged not to smoke for many health reasons.
Lastly, but very importantly, DEPO-PROVERA frees you from the hassle or worry of taking a pill every day. And that's no small thing.
Advantages include:
- It is very effective, 99.7%.
- You only have to think about birth control four times a year.
- Your menstrual periods usually go away completely, no bleeding, no cramps, no PMS.
Disadvantages include:
- Some women have a lot of spotting. This usually gets less with time. It can usually be controlled by taking low dose hormone pills.
- Weight gain is common. It may be avoided by diet and exercise.
- The ability to get pregnant is sometimes delayed for up to one year after the last shot.
- It gives no protection against sexually transmitted
diseases.