Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera, Lunelle)
The birth control shot, administered by a health care practitioner, is a type of hormonal birth control delivered into the bloodstream through in injection into the arm or buttock. Shots are designed to prevent pregnancy.
How Long Birth Control Shot Lasts: Depo-Provera shots last for 3 months. Lunelle shots last for 1 month. Determining which one is best for you is a question to be explored with your health care practitioner.
Maintenance Needed for Birth Control Shot: Users must make sure to make regular appointments with a health-care practitioner every month or every 3 months. No other maintenance is required while using the shot. Birth control shots do not protect you from sexually transmitted infections, thus condoms and other safer sex techniques are encouraged.
Birth Control Shot Specific Concerns: While using Depo-Provera there is a risk of losing bone calcium, and the longer you are on Depo, the more calcium you may lose. There is a chance that this calcium will not restore itself, even after stopping Depo-Provera use. This can be offset, in part, by a calcium-rich diet or using calcium supplements during use. Birth control shots may also result in loss of menstruation, sporadic menstruation, or spotting during use.
Effectiveness of the Birth Control Shot: The shot is 99.7% effective in preventing pregnancy. For most people, the biggest issue is needing to remember to go back to your health care practitioner every month or three months.
WARNING: The birth control shot does not protect the user from sexually transmitted infections.
Birth control options are always evolving. To find out about the latest options, schedule an appointment with Planned Parenthood or your regular GYN, or even your regular primary care physician. Birth control shots, while effective is not right for everyone.
If you are evaluating how you feel about the different options of birth control, or what being on birth control symbolically represents to you, or what it means to help you teenage child begin being on birth control pills therapy can help. Do not hesitate to contact us at Sex Therapy in Philadelphia / Center for Growth, inc to schedule an initial appointment.