Injected Contraception

Injected contraceptives help fill the needs of women who are able to take hormonal contraceptives but have difficulty complying with daily pills. Injected progestins have been the standard form, but they can have severe effects on the menstrual cycle. More recently, combination injections of estrogen and progestins have been developed that are effective, have fewer side effects than progestin injections, and may even have health benefits.

Injected Progestins

Injected progestins, particularly depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate or DMPA (Depo-Provera), are currently the standard injected contraceptive and are very effective. Depo-Provera uses a progestin called medroxyprogesterone. Like other progestin contraceptives, Depo-Provera prevents pregnancy by halting ovulation, thickening the cervical mucus, and stopping the implantation of fertilized eggs in the uterine lining.

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Administering Injections. The typical procedures for progestin injections are as follows:

• A physical examination is necessary before beginning the injections.
• It is injected into a muscle in the patient's arm or buttock, and during months between injections, the hormone slowly diffuses out of the muscle into the bloodstream.
• Depo-Provera requires an injection by the physician every three months. Another injected progesterone (Noristerat) needs to be injected every two months.
• If more than two weeks pass beyond the regular injection schedules, the woman should have a pregnancy test before taking the next one.

Candidacy for Injected Progestins

Depo-Provera is a good choice for many women who want to delay pregnancy for several years but hope to bear children later on. It is safe for many women who are not candidates for OCs, including smokers over 35, and for those who have the following conditions:

• Risk for blood clots or stroke.
• Migraines.
• Diabetes.
• Systemic lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder which may affect many organ systems including the skin, joints and internal organs. The disease may be mild or severe and life-threatening. African-Americans and Asians are disproportionately affected.

• Coronary artery disease.

Click the icon to see an image of atherosclerosis.

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