Contraceptive Injections are recognized as an effective and long lasting alternative to the pill. The injection contains the hormone progestogen which works by preventing ovulation within the womb much like the progestrogen only pill. The progestogen helps to thicken mucus in the cervix which blocks the entry of sperm and assists in thinning the lining of the uterus which prevents eggs development there.
How do I use Contraceptive Injections
Your doctor or GP should administer the injection into the buttocks. Once administered, the patient must make return appointments for additional injections depending on their choice contraception. There are two main types of injection. Firstly, Depo Provera, which remains effective for twelve weeks before top up injections are required. Secondly there is Noristerat. This injection lasts for around eight weeks and is described as a more “short term’ cases of contraceptive requirement, where a partner may be awaiting a vasectomy or may then look into having children. Noristerat is much less commonly used compared to Depo Provera.
Can I use Contraceptive Injections ?
While for most, the injection is readily available from for GP or doctor a number of very specific groups of women this method of contraception is advised against. The injection is unsuitable for sufferers of undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding. Women suffering migraines or liver disease should also look to other forms of contraception. Furthermore, women with a personal history of hormone dependent cancer should not look to the contraceptive injection as a suitable method of birth control. Your doctor will also check for a history of thrombosis or clots and even an osteoporosis. This is because, in the use of Depo Provera, the levels of the female hormone oestrogen are significantly lowered which can lead to the thinning of the bones through the reduction of bone mineral density. This is a particular concern for women under the age of nineteen whose bodies are still at a stage of developing bone. In these instances, the patient will be placed on this programme of contraception at the doctor’s discretion, though adolescent girls on the whole, are advised to seek other methods of contraception. Women that have experienced cholestatic pruritus or intense itching during pregnancy may also be advised against these injections.
The Positives of Contraceptive Injections
Injections, like the combined pill are more than 99% effective when used correctly. They are also similarly effective in reducing heavy or painful periods, making them much lighter for women, with some avoiding them all together. Yet, unlike the combined pill, no course of daily, scheduled medication is required. Instead, users need only ensure they keep up to date with the twelve week top up injection appointments scheduled. The risk of missing a pill is removed and with it some of the danger of accidental pregnancy. The injection is also known to provide protection against cancer of the womb and uterus as well as protection from ovarian cysts and ectopic pregnancy.
The Negatives of Contraceptive Injections
Contraceptive injections are a long term solution to birth control and this must be noted when considering the various side effects. An injection cannot be undone and therefore any side effects or problems will persist for the course of the eight to twelve week period and perhaps beyond that. On a basic level users may experience weight gain, mood swings, headaches and skin problems. Yet this is only the beginning, as further complaints include dizziness, stomach complaints, breast tenderness and both heavy and irregular periods. According to some statistics there is around a 40% chance that a woman’s period will be affected in some way through the use of the Depo Provera injection and use of the injection, as with many forms of contraception to women, can increase the chances of breast cancer. Before making a decision about contraceptive injections, it is important to weigh up the risks this recorded side effects represent and also that these will stay with you for over three months. Even after coming off the twelve week injection programme, fertility will not immediately return and could be delayed for an unspecified amount of time which could stretch to as long as a year.