Are you looking for a safe and effective birth control method? Try Depo - Provera contraceptive injection and do not forget to refer to a few things to note.
To prevent pregnancy, women have many choices. Among them, the contraceptive injection (Depo - Provera) is the most popular choice because it is both convenient and simple. However, do you really understand about the contraceptive injection Depo - Provera yet? If not, let aFamilyToday Health follow up with the shares below to learn more about this contraceptive method.
The contraceptive injection Depo - Provera
Depo - Provera is a synthetic drug similar to progesterone, a normal hormone produced by the ovaries during each menstrual cycle. Your doctor will inject this medication into your hands or buttocks. Each injection has a contraceptive effect for 12-14 weeks. However, after 3 months, you should have re-vaccination to ensure effective contraception.
Most women can use this method of contraception. However, if you have the following problems then you should not get an injection:
Breast cancer
Liver failure
Circuit embolism
Abnormal vaginal bleeding has not yet diagnosed the cause.
Women with osteoporosis should also consider using this method as it reduces bone density. For teenagers, this method is also not suitable.
How does the injectable contraceptive Depo - Provera work?
Depo - Provera acts on a woman's ovaries like the hormone progesterone. It works as follows:
Ovulation prevention , which is to prevent an adult egg from being released from the ovary.
Inhibits cervical mucus, preventing sperm from reaching the ovaries.
The uterine lining is shrinking, making it difficult for the egg to nest.
Using contraceptive injections like?
Depo - Provera is a prescription contraceptive, to be injected every 12-14 weeks. Your doctor will give you an injection in your arm or buttock within 5 days of your period.
Effective contraceptive injections?
If using the drug properly and regularly, the contraceptive failure rate is 1%, which means that in 100 people, only 1 will fail. In fact, only 3 out of 1,000 get pregnant with the contraceptive injection. However, this drug has potential risks such as preterm birth if you do not know you are pregnant and keep getting the injection.
Therefore, when using this method of birth control, you need to pay attention to the signs of pregnancy. If you suspect that you are pregnant, you must stop the injection. There is no way of contraception that can prevent pregnancy 100%, so does this method of injection.
Side effects of the contraceptive injection
Depo - Provera is a highly effective birth control pill, but it can also cause some side effects such as:
Acne
Headache
Worry
Dizziness and nausea
Tired
Depression
Weight gain
The menstrual cycle is changed
Decreased bone density
Breast softening
Sudden bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods
Cravings change
Hair growth or hair loss .
Of all the above, altered menstrual cycles are the most common. Menstruation may be irregular or completely absent. This problem is not harmful and your period will return to normal after stopping the medicine. Another common side effect is weight gain. The first year you are injected with birth control pills, you will gain about 2.5 kg.
If you are breastfeeding, you should consult your doctor before giving the injection. Moreover, using the contraceptive injection Depo - Provera for a long time (more than 2 years) can reduce bone density, increase the risk of osteoporosis . If you drink alcohol or smoke, your risk of osteoporosis increases even more.
When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms:
Severe abdominal pain
Severe or persistent vaginal bleeding
Yellow eyes or skin
Appearance of a tumor in the chest
Severe depression.
When injecting birth control pills, you should consult your doctor if you have the following conditions:
Diabetes
There is a risk of heart disease
High Blood Pressure
A history of liver disease
A history of embolism
Depression.
What happens if I forget the injection after 3 months?
To ensure effectiveness, the contraceptive injection Depo - Provera must be done every 12-14 weeks. Therefore, remember to schedule an appointment with your doctor. If you are 5 days late, the contraceptive effect will no longer be guaranteed. So you will have to use another method of contraception. Before you get vaccinated, you should also check for signs of pregnancy.
How to get pregnant after stopping the injection?
If you want to become pregnant, you should stop using the injection. However, it is important to know that the Pill Depo - Provera can last for up to 2 years in your body.
There are many women who can conceive within 3 - 4 months after stopping the injection. Others take up to 2 years to conceive. The more times you inject, the longer it will take your body to return to normal.
The injected hormone takes time to clear from your body, and your menstrual cycle must return to normal before you can get pregnant. The birth control injection prevents ovulation, meaning you still can't get pregnant until the birth control pill stops working. While the pregnancy rate is very low, you are still at risk for an ectopic pregnancy.
Signs of pregnancy while taking birth control injections
There is only 1% chance of getting pregnant when you use the Pill Depo - Provera. If this is the case, you will experience symptoms of pregnancy such as:
1. Slow period
This is the most common sign of pregnancy. For some women, period delay is the first sign that they are pregnant. However, if you are using the contraceptive injection Depo - Provera, then menstrual delay occurs often. Therefore, it will be difficult to see through this sign.
2. Fatigue

You will begin to feel more tired or tired than usual 1 week after you conceive. There are many causes of fatigue during this period. Increased progesterone levels make you feel sleepy. Other common symptoms of pregnancy such as anemia and depression also increase fatigue. Furthermore, your body is working for 2 people, so fatigue is inevitable.
3. Nausea
Nausea usually appears 2 - 8 weeks after conception and usually occurs any time of the day. Nausea is often related to the hormone estrogen. After 3 months, this symptom will decrease. However, there are also some people who experience nausea during pregnancy. You can reduce this symptom by dividing meals or by having your doctor prescribe anti-nausea medications.
4. The breasts are tight, stiff, slightly painful, or itchy
Some women find their breasts tight and painful 1 week after conception. This is because the milk glands and estrogen levels grow rapidly. To reduce discomfort, choose a comfortable breast mask.
5. Headache
During pregnancy, the amount of hormones in the body increases dramatically, causing headaches more often than usual. If you experience headaches, ask your doctor what pain relievers are safe for pregnancy.
6. Urinate often
You will find yourself visiting the bathroom more often than usual after 6-8 weeks of conception. This is because the body increases the production of hormones and other changes in the abdomen due to uterine development.
7. Food cravings

Some women tend to crave certain foods during pregnancy. Diets rich in nutrients, supplemented with vitamins before pregnancy will help reduce cravings. If you crave unhealthy foods, find an alternative. For example, if you like french fries, choose another dish made with potato chips. This way, you will relieve your cravings, while at the same time you can eat nutritious foods.
If you are using the Depo - Provera contraceptive injection and have these 7 symptoms, buy a pregnancy test and see your doctor for examination and advice.
Advantages and disadvantages of oral contraceptive injection
1. Advantages
Highly effective when used correctly, ie injected every 3 months.
There is no need to remember to take birth control pills every day.
The cost is lower than using birth control pills.
Doesn't affect much to having sex.
You may have mid-pregnancy blood spots or missed periods for 1 year after the injection.
Prevent fibroids, protect against endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer.
Does not contain estrogen, a hormone that can increase your risk of heart disease.
2. Disadvantages
Doesn't protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases.
If you want to become pregnant, the injection must be stopped a few months earlier.
Delay fertility after stopping the injection.
Must go to the doctor to examine and prescribe.
The menstrual cycle is changed: heavy or prolonged periods.
Things need to notice
You need to talk to your doctor to understand the pros and cons of the Depo - Provera injection. Once you've given the shot, it's likely you'll experience side effects that last for about 3 months.
You should also ask your doctor about delaying your ability to conceive after stopping your medication.
This method of birth control often interrupts the menstrual cycle. It can cause heavy or prolonged periods, unusual bleeding or missed periods. If you experience severe or persistent bleeding, you should tell your doctor.
You will also have a tendency to gain weight with birth control pills. On average, you'll gain between 2.5 and 3.5 kg. Ask your doctor for more information about weight gain, especially someone who is very attentive to your physique.
Injections of birth control pills lower estrogen levels. Over time, this will decrease bone density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. Therefore, it is especially important for adolescents and young women because their bones may not be fully developed.
It is important to know that this drug has the potential to increase a woman's risk of breast cancer. However, you should weigh the risks and benefits of the oral contraceptive injection.
Since injecting birth control pills don't protect you from sexually transmitted infections, you still need to use a condom.
You should consult your doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
1. Severe headache or migraine
2. Severe abdominal
pain 3. Leg pain
4. Vision problems
5. Pain with breathing or cough
6. Itchy body, increased blood pressure, yellow eyes or skin (jaundice).
7. Symptoms of pregnancy.
Birth control pills can affect the results of certain tests, such as thyroid or liver function tests. If you have a blood test, tell the doctor you are using the contraceptive injection.
When should not inject Depo - Provera?
Know or suspect you are pregnant
Want to get pregnant next year
Have breast cancer
Abnormal vaginal bleeding with no known cause
Suffering from serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke ...
Have a genetic blood disorder
Have liver cancer, cirrhosis or any other liver disease.
Pregnancy and lactation

Some medicines can be safe, beneficial for the mother and not dangerous to the fetus, but also some drugs to avoid while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, you should consult your doctor before taking any medications.
The contraceptive injection is not intended for use by pregnant women. Your doctor will give you a pregnancy test before your first shot. You will also need to do a test if the injection is 5 days late.
Most women start ovulating 5 - 6 months after stopping the injection, but you still may not be pregnant for 12-15 months or even longer.
The contraceptive Depo - Provera passes into breast milk very little. However, there are no studies that prove that this drug will have side effects in babies or have a lasting effect on your baby's development during puberty. Birth control shots are considered safe for women who are breastfeeding their babies. If you are breast-feeding, wait for your baby to be 6 months old before you start the injection.
Before you start injecting birth control pills, be sure to tell your doctor about any medications, including prescription medications or herbs, that you have recently used. In addition, before taking any medicine while using the contraceptive injection, you should inform your doctor to see if the two drugs are safe in combination.
The contraceptive injection is a very effective birth control method. However, it is important that you do your homework before deciding to use this method. If you intend to become pregnant in the near future, choose another birth control method. Do not worry, because besides this method of birth control, you still have many other options.