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Depo-Provera I: What Are The Risks?

© Debbi Carter

Depo-Provera was supposed to be a wonderful new form of birth control that women only had to think about four times a year. Maybe you or someone you know is thinking about Depo for birth control. One of the first things that should be considered when choosing a birth control method are the possible risks involved in using it. I will bring you a series of three articles about Depo. This one will contain basic information including who cannot use it, usual and severe side effects. The following two articles will be information received by me from Depo users. Some users love it and will not change their birth control, others have had serious side effects and literally hate Depo. I hope that by bringing to you both sides of the issue, you will be better able to decide if this might be the right birth control for you.

What it is - Depo-Provera (depot- medroxyprogesterone acetate) is a synthetic progesterone hormone similar to the one that a women's body produces. This is delivered as an injection into the arm or buttocks on a regular schedule (12 weeks). If given during the first 5 days of menstrual bleeding, no additional protection is needed. However, this does not protect the user from STD's (sexually transmitted diseases). For protection from STD's, condoms (male or female) must be used.

How it works - Like most forms of hormonal birth control, Depo keeps the ovaries from releasing an egg and thickens the cervical fluids so sperm have a difficult time swimming in it. If no egg is released, or if no sperm can reach the egg, pregnancy cannot occur. Depo-Provera is over 99% effective.

Common side effects - Some of the most common side effects that can be experienced when using Depo include irregular bleeding (bleeding or spotting between periods, heavier periods, lighter or no period at all). After about one year of continuous use, a complete lack of periods is very common. Some of the other side effects include weight gain, headaches, depression, nausea, breast tenderness, hair loss, skin rashes, and increased or decreased sexual desire.

Serious side effects - You should tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following side effects. Severe depression, migraine headaches, lump in either breast, heavy or continuous bleeding, yellowing of the eyes or skin, sudden shortness of breath, and sharp chest pains.

Drawbacks to using Depo - One of the drawbacks to using Depo is that it can take up to 8 months, or longer, for the medication to leave your system. Regular periods may not return for up to a year after the last injection. Return of fertility and achievement of pregnancy can take up to 18 months or longer. This is not the birth control to use for a short time if you want to achieve pregnancy after stopping it.

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