Depo Provera Shot

Depo Provera Shot

Depo-Provera Shot

Depo-Provera, a contraception drug, is a synthetic hormone (progestin), which is injected under the pare. It is 95-99% effective in preventing pregnancy for 3 months. For continued protection against pregnancy, women must return every 3 months for another injection. Each time a shot is given, a high level of progestin is released into the body. This unnaturally high level stops the natural production of both progesterone and estrogen. As a result, the ovary does not fix an egg and the lining of the uterus is not prepared to support a fertilized egg. In addition, the cervix (opening to the uterus) secretes fungus that blocks sperm from entering the uterus

Understanding The Risks

  • Y'all will have side effects from using this course of contraception. The most frequently reported side furnishings are weight proceeds, spotting, and irregular or heavy menstrual periods, decreased sex bulldoze, depression, headache, nervousness, possible higher risk of chest cancer in women younger than 35, and anemia (low blood count).
  • This method DOES Not protect confronting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, genital warts, hepatitis B or HIV. Just a bulwark method of birth control like condoms, a diaphragm or cervical cap can provide protection from STI'due south.
  • Well-nigh all women feel changes in their periods when using Depo-Provera such every bit: longer periods, spotting between periods (sometimes daily), or no periods at all.
  • The possible long-term effects are not still known, but Depo-Provera has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women nether age 35.
  • You should not employ Depo-Provera if you have: liver disease; breast cancer; blood clots, or unusual vaginal bleeding.
  • Do not use this drug if you are pregnant. The effects of Depo-Provera on the fetus are unknown, just there has been an association between Depo-Provera and nascence defects.
  • Depo-Provera is secreted into chest milk--newborns that drink chest milk will definitely exist exposed to the drug.
  • The FDA and Upjohn (the manufacturer of Depo-Provera) agree that women should non use Depo-Provera if they have ever experienced any of the following health problems: astute liver disease; breast cancer; claret clots in the legs, lungs or eyes; or whatsoever current unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Side Effects

There is no antitoxin that reverses the effects of Depo-Provera. Y'all will take to wait before the effects of the drug somewhen clothing off equally the levels of the drug slowly refuse. Sometimes the unpleasant side furnishings last for several months afterward the terminal shot. Almost women will not resume regular menstrual cycles correct away. On the boilerplate, information technology takes ten months after the final shot before women are fertile again. Some women have not been able to get pregnant. Many women endure from low while taking Depo-Provera. Medical professionals may not recognize this strong connection and encourage women on Depo to as well take anti-depressant drugs, instead of suggesting the adult female stop taking Depo-Provera.

Studies of the take a chance of cancer in women using Depo-Provera have been conducted in other countries. The nearly agonizing results accept been in the chest cancer studies. Three studies on Depo-Provera, found an increase in the risk of breast cancer in women less than 35 years old. These studies are not yet conclusive. Many scientists discount the increased risk for young women because they did not find an overall increased run a risk of breast cancer for all women exposed to Depo-Provera. We remain concerned nigh this possible hazard. Long-term use of Depo-Provera may be the most likely to increase the risk of cancer, but very few long-term users were included in the studies.

Depo-Provera use may decrease the amount of calcium in your bones. The longer yous are on Depo-Provera the more calcium yous may lose. This increases the run a risk of your bones weakening if you use Depo-Provera continuously for a long fourth dimension (for more than ii years). The calcium may not return completely in one case you stop using Depo-Provera. The loss of calcium may increase your take chances of osteoporosis and broken bones, particularly after your menopause. The decrease of calcium in your bones is of most concern if yous are a teenager, young developed, or accept the following risk factors:

  • bone illness
  • anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder)
  • a strong family history of osteoporosis
  • drug use that can lower the amount of calcium in basic (drugs for epilepsy or steroids), or
  • drinking a lot of alcohol or smoking a lot

Taking calcium and vitamin D may lessen the loss of calcium from your bones. It is recommended that you lot cease using Depo-Provera after 2 years. If you want to switch nascency command, Women's Health Specialists tin give you information about other methods.

There have been instances in this land and other countries where women have been pressured into using Depo-Provera or have been given the shot without understanding what it was. Just you as a woman can make up one's mind what the best method of birth control is for you.