What is Depo-Provera?
What Is Depo-Provera?
Depo-Provera is birth control method you can get as a shot. It's a man-made hormone, medroxyprogesterone, which is similar to the natural hormone progesterone.
How Does It Work?
Depo-Provera stops the ovaries from releasing eggs and alters the uterine lining and cervical mucus to keep sperm from reaching any eggs.
How to Use
You'll have to get a shot every 12 weeks to get full protection. After your first injection, doctors recommend using backup birth control, such as a condom, for the first 7 days.
Common Side Effects
Changes to your menstrual cycle are the most common side effects. After a year of use, about 50% of women will stop getting their periods. Other common side effects include headaches, weight gain, and acne.
Bone Mineral Density Concerns
Long-term use of Depo-Provera may lead you to lose bone mineral density, which makes you more likely to get osteoporosis. Your chances are higher if you've taken the shot for longer than 2 years, especially if osteoporosis runs in your family, if you drink a lot, if you smoke, or if you have other risk factors for the condition.
Who Should Not Use Depo-Provera?
People with certain medical conditions should avoid using Depo-Provera. These include liver disease, breast cancer, and blood clots.
STD Protection
Depo-Provera does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). If you are at risk of STDs, consider using additional protection, such as condoms.