What is a Birth Control Shot?

Birth control is an incredibly important topic to women. However, there are numerous types of birth control and options for each type. For example, Birth Control Pills and the Birth Control Patch both provide a woman with hormones that prevent pregnancy. Birth Control Implant and Birth Control Shot do this as well, but they also use other mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy. Birth Control Injection/Shot/Vaccine works by releasing hormones to prevent ovulation from occurring.

The Birth Control Shot is given as an injection in a woman's upper arm or buttocks every three months (13 weeks). A clinician inserts a needle into muscle tissue under the skin and releases 150 milligrams of a synthetic version of progesterone called Depo-Provera within the tissue. Birth Control Injection/Shot/Vaccine tricks a woman's body into thinking that it is already pregnant because of all the hormones it releases. The Birth Control Shot also thickens mucus in women, which makes it difficult for sperm to travel through the cervix and into the uterus. It also prevents eggs from leaving the ovaries.

The Birth Control Shot is 96%-99% effective in preventing pregnancy when used over time. However, its effectiveness drops when women miss an injection or change their injection schedule without making up doses at another time in order to maintain protection against pregnancies. Birth control injections are given once every three months but can last up to 13 weeks. Birth Control Shot should not be used as contraception if a woman is more than two weeks late for her next injection because this could result in pregnancy. Birth control injections are considered effective birth control, which means that it prevents the release of eggs from ovaries. Birth control injections delay the time before a woman can get pregnant after stopping them. Birth Control Injection/Shot/Vaccine may also decrease women's bone mineral density and cause them to lose some calcium when they use Birth Control Injection/Shot/Vaccine for up to 3 years.

Birth Control Injections do not protect against Sexually Transmitted Diseases like HIV and Chlamydia, but it does protect against pregnancy and also against uterine and ovarian cancer. Birth Control Injection/Shot/Vaccine protects women from ovarian cysts after months of use, but Birth Control Shot can cause them in some women to begin with. Birth control injections are the most effective form of birth control currently available over the counter or by prescription. Birth Control Injection/Shot/Vaccine has few side effects because it just releases hormones into a woman's body that she already naturally produces. Birth Control Shot is considered safe for women who do not smoke, have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, HIV or lupus. Birth control injections may affect a woman's menstrual cycle or make them stop altogether when she first starts Birth Control Injection/Shot/Vaccine. Birth control injections reduce women's risk of uterine cancer by 97% after 5 years of use, ovarian cancer by 70% after 5 years of use and endometrial cancer by 60% after 7 years of use.

Women can have side effects when using Birth Control Injection/Shot/Vaccine such as skin changes, depression, headache, weight gain or loss, irregular bleeding or spotting between periods, breast tenderness and vaginal infections after starting Birth Control Injection/Shot/Vaccine. Birth control injections are not recommended for women who smoke because it can cause heart problems. Birth control injections also increase side effects for women if they are taking anti-seizure/antidepressant medications.

In hindsight, Birth control injections are a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy. They work by releasing hormones into the body that mimic those that are released during pregnancy. Birth control injections can also protect women from ovarian cancer. However, they may cause some side effects, such as skin changes, depression, headache, weight gain or loss, irregular bleeding or spotting between periods, breast tenderness and vaginal infections.

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