Birth control shot (Depo-Provera)
Basic Info & FAQs
The shot is just what it sounds like—a shot that keeps you from getting pregnant. Once you get it, your birth control is covered for three full months—there’s nothing else you have to do. Some people call the shot “Depo,” short for Depo-Provera. The shot contains progestin, a hormone that prevents your ovaries from releasing eggs. It also thickens your cervical mucus, which helps block sperm from getting to the egg in the first place. Worth considering even if you’re afraid of needles… Because what’s a little prick compared to a pregnancy?
No (pregnancy) worries for three months
If you’re the kind of person who would have trouble remembering to take a pill every day, the shot might be a good option. You only need to remember to do something once every three months. And we can help you with that. You can visit a health care provider to get your shot.
Total privacy
No one can tell when you’re on Depo. There’s no tell-tale packaging and nothing you need to do before you have sex.
Yes, there are needles involved
If you’re really that scared of needles, then Depo is not for you. Just think, though. It’s a single shot, and you’re done for three months. Weigh the options.
It’s a love/hate thing
Depo is one of those methods that some people LOVE and some people HATE. You can watch videos of folks who use it for more on that.
The pregnancy question
It is possible to get pregnant as soon as 12 weeks following the last injection, though for some users it can take around 9 months for fertility to return. The bottom line? Don’t take any chances. If you’re not ready for a baby, protect yourself with another method.
What does it cost?
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, if you have health insurance, chances are good that you’ll be able to get this method with no out-of-pocket cost.
If you don’t have insurance or Medicaid, this method will cost you about $25 a month—about the same as the pill. But unlike the pill, you’ll only have to go to the clinic every three months.
Prices:
- With insurance: Free under most plans
- With Medicaid: Free
- Without insurance: The full price of a three-month shot can range from $50 - $120. Depending on your income, you may be able to go to a low-cost clinic to get the shot at reduced cost.
- Payment assistance: Pfizer/Wyeth offers free prescriptions (through a doctor or clinic) to women earning less than $21,660 a year. Call 1-866-706-2400.
How do I use it?
There’s not really much you have to do in order to use the shot—just make sure to keep regular appointments with your health care provider. You just go to the clinic, have an exam, and get an injection. Every three months, you’ll go in for another injection. Easy-breezy.
Make sure to discuss the timing of your period and the shot with your provider, because that’ll help determine how soon after the shot you’ll be protected.
Also, it’s really important to get your shots on time. If you’re more than two weeks late for an injection, you may have to get a pregnancy test before the shot.
Tips and tricks
Spotting improves with time. So give it a chance—two or three cycles. (That’s 6-9 months in Depo time.)
The good & the bad
The Positive
Positive “side effects”? You bet. There are actually lots of things about birth control that are good for your body as well as your sex life.
- Easy to use
- Doesn’t interrupt the heat of the moment
- Super private—no one will know unless you tell them
- You don’t have to worry about remembering to take it every day
- Might give you shorter, lighter periods—or no periods at all
- Your birth control is taken care of for 3 months at a time
- Can be used by women who can’t take estrogen
- It’s very effective at preventing pregnancy—if you get the shots on time
- You can use it while you’re breastfeeding
The Negative
Everyone worries about negative side effects, but for many women, they’re not a problem. Remember, you’re introducing hormones into your body, so it can take a few months to adjust. Give it time.
The most common complaints:
- Irregular bleeding, especially for the first 6-12 months (This could mean longer, heavier periods, or spotting in between periods.)
- Change in appetite or weight gain (It’s common for some women to gain around 5 pounds in the first year, while other women gain nothing.)
Less common side effects:
- A change in your sex drive
- Depression
- Hair loss or more hair on your face or body
- Nervousness or dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Sore breasts
There’s no way to stop the side effects of Depo—it’s not like you can go back in time and not get the shot. If you still feel uncomfortable after the course of at least two shots in a row, switch methods and stay protected. You’re worth it.
*For a very small number of women there are risks of serious side effects.