Kemoish
May 4th, 2002, 02:48 AM
Here Goes Nothing!
Birth Control Category: Hormonal
SHOTS: Depo Provera
Depo-Provera
How It Works:
Keeps the ovaries from releasing eggs
Thickens cervical mucus to keep sperm from joining eggs.
Duration: 12 Weeks or 3 months.
Effectiveness: 99.7% (Of Every 1,000 women who use it, only three will become pregnant during the first year of use)
Advantages
Prevents pregnancy for 12 weeks
Doesn't need to be taken daily or put in place before having sex
Doesn't require surgery
Contains no estrogen
Reduces menstrual cramps and anemia
Protects against endometrial and ovarian cancers
Can be used while breastfeeding (six weeks after delivery).
Common Side Effects
Irregular bleeding is the most common side effect for women using the Shot.
Periods become fewer and lighter for most women -- most will have no periods after five years of use. It may take a year for periods to begin again after a woman stops using the Shot.
Other women will have longer and heavier periods.
Some may have more light spotting and breakthrough bleeding.
Possible Side Effects
Increased appetite and weight gain
Headache
Sore breasts
Nausea
Nervousness
Dizziness
Depression
Rashes or spotty darkening of skin
Hair loss
Increased facial or body hair
Increased or decreased sex drive.
Disadvantages
You will need to get a shot every 12 weeks.
The effects of using the Shot cannot be reversed immediately.
You may not be able to become pregnant for a full year after you stop using it.
Side effects may continue for up to eight months until DMPA is cleared from your body.
Who Can Use The Shot
Most women can use the Shot safely.
It may be most appropriate if you:
Want very effective long-lasting contraception
Want long-term birth spacing
Women who cannot take estrogen.
It is inadvisable for you to use the Shot without special clinical supervision if you have:
Concerns about gaining weight
Diabetes
Major depression
Recent history of liver disease, such as hepatitis, or abnormal results on liver function tests
Recently had blood clots in the eyes, legs, or lungs.
You Should Not Use The Shot If You:
Are pregnant
Want to become pregnant within 18 months
Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
Have a serious liver disease or growths of the liver
Have a known or suspected breast cancer
Have Cushings syndrome and are being treated with Cytadren
Are allergic to DMPA
Cannot put up with irregular bleeding or loss of your period.
Warnings: Contact Clinic/Doctor IMMEDIATELY If The Following Things Occur
Vaginal bleeding that lasts longer and is much heavier than your usual period
Major depression
A lump in a breast
Sudden and severe abdominal pain
Yellowing of skin or eye.
How To Get The Shot
Your clinician will take your medical history and give you a physical exam, including:
Blood pressure check
Weight
Breast exam
Pelvic exam
Pap test (to check for cancer of the cervix)
There may be other tests based on your family and medical history.
The Shot is given into your arm or buttock.
You will need a shot every 12 weeks for as long as you want to prevent pregnancy.
The Cost
The exam may cost between $35 and $125. Further visits cost between $20 and $40. Each shot costs from $30 to $75.
The total cost for each year of use will be between $215 and $545.
If you are more than two weeks late for your shot, you may need a pregnancy test before having the next one.
Pregnancy tests cost up to $20.
Well, that's all for this installment of The All Inclusive Guide To Birth Control! Watch for future installments! Next Up: Pills!
Birth Control Category: Hormonal
SHOTS: Depo Provera
Depo-Provera
How It Works:
Keeps the ovaries from releasing eggs
Thickens cervical mucus to keep sperm from joining eggs.
Duration: 12 Weeks or 3 months.
Effectiveness: 99.7% (Of Every 1,000 women who use it, only three will become pregnant during the first year of use)
Advantages
Prevents pregnancy for 12 weeks
Doesn't need to be taken daily or put in place before having sex
Doesn't require surgery
Contains no estrogen
Reduces menstrual cramps and anemia
Protects against endometrial and ovarian cancers
Can be used while breastfeeding (six weeks after delivery).
Common Side Effects
Irregular bleeding is the most common side effect for women using the Shot.
Periods become fewer and lighter for most women -- most will have no periods after five years of use. It may take a year for periods to begin again after a woman stops using the Shot.
Other women will have longer and heavier periods.
Some may have more light spotting and breakthrough bleeding.
Possible Side Effects
Increased appetite and weight gain
Headache
Sore breasts
Nausea
Nervousness
Dizziness
Depression
Rashes or spotty darkening of skin
Hair loss
Increased facial or body hair
Increased or decreased sex drive.
Disadvantages
You will need to get a shot every 12 weeks.
The effects of using the Shot cannot be reversed immediately.
You may not be able to become pregnant for a full year after you stop using it.
Side effects may continue for up to eight months until DMPA is cleared from your body.
Who Can Use The Shot
Most women can use the Shot safely.
It may be most appropriate if you:
Want very effective long-lasting contraception
Want long-term birth spacing
Women who cannot take estrogen.
It is inadvisable for you to use the Shot without special clinical supervision if you have:
Concerns about gaining weight
Diabetes
Major depression
Recent history of liver disease, such as hepatitis, or abnormal results on liver function tests
Recently had blood clots in the eyes, legs, or lungs.
You Should Not Use The Shot If You:
Are pregnant
Want to become pregnant within 18 months
Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
Have a serious liver disease or growths of the liver
Have a known or suspected breast cancer
Have Cushings syndrome and are being treated with Cytadren
Are allergic to DMPA
Cannot put up with irregular bleeding or loss of your period.
Warnings: Contact Clinic/Doctor IMMEDIATELY If The Following Things Occur
Vaginal bleeding that lasts longer and is much heavier than your usual period
Major depression
A lump in a breast
Sudden and severe abdominal pain
Yellowing of skin or eye.
How To Get The Shot
Your clinician will take your medical history and give you a physical exam, including:
Blood pressure check
Weight
Breast exam
Pelvic exam
Pap test (to check for cancer of the cervix)
There may be other tests based on your family and medical history.
The Shot is given into your arm or buttock.
You will need a shot every 12 weeks for as long as you want to prevent pregnancy.
The Cost
The exam may cost between $35 and $125. Further visits cost between $20 and $40. Each shot costs from $30 to $75.
The total cost for each year of use will be between $215 and $545.
If you are more than two weeks late for your shot, you may need a pregnancy test before having the next one.
Pregnancy tests cost up to $20.
Well, that's all for this installment of The All Inclusive Guide To Birth Control! Watch for future installments! Next Up: Pills!