Depo Provera: Why You May Want To Avoid This Contraceptive

Depo-Provera Side Effects

Like any hormonal birth control method, Depo-Provera can cause a range of side effects. Some users will experience many of them, while others will have no noticeable negative side effects or will experience side effects only for a while.

The side effects of Depo-Provera include:

• Weight gain
• Irregular menstrual bleeding and bleeding between periods
• Headaches
• Nervousness
• Mood swings
• Hot flashes
• Acne
• Libido changes
• Breast tenderness
• Hair loss
• Dizziness
• Loss of bone density and risk of osteoporosis. 

As mentioned before, Depo-Provera causes many women who have been using this contraceptive for 12 months or longer to quit experiencing periods or to only occasionally experience periods. This can be classed as a side effect, but it's a positive side effect for many women. 

Depo-Provera is not suitable for all women. You should not use it if you have liver disease, unexplained vaginal bleeding, breast cancer, blood clots, and a number of other conditions. Always discuss whether you are a suitable candidate for any form of contraception you are considering with your healthcare provider in detail. The Medical Eligibility Criteria they use will help them determine whether you should or should not use a contraceptive.

Fertility After Depo-Provera: A Real Concern?

Women who would like to start trying to conceive should simply discontinue injections of Depo-Provera. While fertility (ovulation) returns right away for some former users, this has proven not to be the case for everyone. Just look around online forums for women who would like to get pregnant, and you'll soon hear about cases where women are still not experiencing regular cycles six months or even a year after their last shots. These stories aren't due to the fact that these women would have experienced fertility problems regardless of their previous use of Depo-Provera; this is a recognized problem.

Interestingly enough, the time frame for a return to fertility does not seem to be related to the duration for which a women was using Depo-Provera. This problem can strike even those who were using the birth control shot for a short period of time. Therefore, women who think they may possibly like to try to conceive within the next few years will probably want to consider alternative birth control methods.

Alternatives To Depo-Provera

Women who are interested in using Depo-Provera will find this form of contraception appeals to them for specific reasons. They want a contraceptive that doesn't require daily use and that they can essentially simply forget about for a while once they have received their shots. Those who want to try to conceive within the next few years may decide Depo-Provera is not for them. What alternatives are suitable for these women?

See Also: Permanent Contraception: An Overview

• Nexplanon (the latest version of Implanon) is a flexible plastic rod that also emits progestin to prevent pregnancy. It can be used up to three years at a time. Removal is simple and facilitates an immediate return to fertility. As such, Nexplanon is a wonderful alternative to Depo-Provera.
• Paragard is a hormone-free intrauterine device. This makes it suitable for those who are not good candidates for hormone-based contraceptives. It prevents pregnancy for up to 10 years after placement and can even be used as an emergency contraceptive.
• The Mirena Intrauterine System is another IUD, but this time one that also emits progestin. It can be used for up to five years at a time. After removal, fertility returns right away.