Depo-Provera

From Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality

A reversible, prescription method of birth control. Depo-Provera comes in the form of an injection and must, therefore, be administered by a clinician. The injection contains a hormone that prevents the ovaries from releasing eggs and thickens the cervical mucus so that sperm cannot join with any eggs that might be released. The effects of the injection last twelve weeks. For women using it who later want to get pregnant, it takes an average of ten months, and as long as eighteen months, to become pregnant after the last injection.

Depo-Provera is a very effective method of birth control: only 3 women in 1,000 will become pregnant after a year of use. Since the woman does not do anything after the injection is given, there is no chance of her making a mistake. Of course, she must go back to her clinician every twelve weeks for another injection.

There are, however, possible side effects, and because Depo-Provera injections last for twelve weeks, there is no way to stop them until the shot has worn off (it often last longer than twelve weeks). These side effects may include irregular intervals between periods, longer menstrual flow, spotting between periods, and long periods without menstruation. The longer a woman uses Depo-Provera, the more likely it is that she will stop having menstrual periods; more than one-half of Depo-Provera users have no periods after one year of use. Other side effects, such as change in appetite, weight gain, headaches, sore breasts, nausea, and increased or decreased sex drive, may also be experienced. As with the pill, women over thirty-five years of age who smoke should not take Depo-Provera.

The cost for Depo-Provera usually includes an initial visit to a physician, which, for a private physician in the United States, might cost between $35 and $125 (it costs less at a clinic). Injections cost from $22 to $30 each. Subsequent visits should cost from $20 to $40, plus the cost of the injection.