Depo Provera is a hormone injection, usually in the arm or rear, which
prevents pregnancy for 3 months. It utilizes progesterone to prevent ovulation,
but because it does not contain estrogen, most women stop menstruating with use
of Depo Provera.
Women who continue to have periods may find them irregular or heavy. Depo
Provera offers the same level of protection from pregnancy as the Pill and other
hormone methods, but the patient need not remember to take it daily or weekly. A
doctor’s visit every 3 months is all that’s required.
The effectiveness, benefits, and side effects of Depo Provera are similar to
those of the Pill, with one major exception: a study in 2004 showed that women
who take Depo Provera lose bone density and are at a higher risk of osteoporosis
later in life. It is not recommended as a long-term method of birth control or
for women who are still growing.
One benefit of Depo Provera is that women become protected from pregnancy
within 24 hours of receiving the injection, and it is approved for use by women
who are 6 weeks postpartum. Like the Pill, Depo Provera does not protect against
STDs, including HIV/AIDS.