Birth Control

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Birth Control Shot

What Is the Birth Control Shot?

The contraceptive shot that clinics now give is called Depo-Provera. It is a shot that the woman gets every 12 weeks to keep from getting pregnant. The shot only has progestin in it, no estrogen.

The shot works well to prevent pregnancy. But it does not protect against HIV or other STDs. If you are having sex with someone who might give you an STD, use a condom.

Effectiveness

Perfect user: A person that uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.

Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.

With perfect use, the shot is 99.7% effective.

This means that if 100 women use the shot exactly the right way, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group will get pregnant in a year.

With typical use, the shot is 97% effective.

For women who don't always use the shot exactly the right way, 3 women out of 100 might get pregnant in a year.

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Advantages

  • The shot is easy to use and lasts for 12 weeks.
  • The shot is very good at preventing pregnancy.
  • The shot may help prevent some health problems, like ovarian cancer and cancer of the lining of the uterus.
  • Periods are lighter and less "crampy".
  • Some women like not having a period.
  • The shot can be used by women who can't take estrogen.
  • The shot doesn't interrupt sex.

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Possible Side Effects

Changes in menstrual bleeding

At first, all women who use the shot have changes in their periods.

  • You may not know when you will have your period.
  • You may have spotting between periods. For most women, this lessens over time.
  • You may have longer or shorter periods.

After using the shot for 12 months, some women stop having periods. Your periods will return to normal after the last shot wears off.

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Other Common Side Effects

Some women may get one or more of these side effects:

  • Fatigue
  • Sore breasts
  • Nausea
  • Weight gain (this can be 5 pounds or more)
  • Headaches
  • Nervousness
  • Depression
  • Dizziness
  • Changes in sex drive

Important: Some women stop getting the shot when they have any of these side effects. The side effects won't hurt you or stop you from having a baby in the future. They usually go away in 1 to 3 months. If they bother you, go back to your clinician so that you can be given a different pill that my not cause any side effects.

Remember: If you ever stop the shot for any reason, you can get pregnant right away.

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Possible Warning Signs

Some signs of possible serious side effects are:

  • Dizziness
  • Numbness in arms or legs
  • Abdominal pain that is severe
  • Chest pain
  • Bad headache
  • Eye problems
  • Bad leg pain, swelling, or redness

The chance of having these warning signs of a possible serious health problem is very low. However, if you should have one or more of them, go to your clinician or an emergency room right away.

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Important Warning

If you see a doctor for any reason, tell the doctor that you are getting contraceptive shots. Some medicines may keep the shot from working as well. If you need to take one of these medicines, you may need to use a back up method of pregnancy prevention, like condoms, until you finish the medication. Your doctor will tell you if this is necessary.

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To Learn More

To learn more about how to use the shot, go to:

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