Where Can I Get Depo
This type of birth control is a prescription medication that must be ordered by your healthcare provider . In many cases, the injection is given in your providers office by a nurse or a nurse that can come to your home. There is a different brand of the birth control shot that can be administered by patients at home. This shot is called Depo-subQ Provera 104. Unlike the Depo-Provera® shot that you may receive in your providers office, this version doesnt need to go into your muscular tissue. Your provider will teach you how to properly give yourself this shot before you start doing it on your own. Currently, theres no generic version of this medication. For cost reasons, many patients plan for intramuscular injections given by nurses.
Are There Any Side Effects With The Birth Control Shot
Many girls who use the birth control shot will notice a change in their periods. Side effects that some girls have include:
- irregular periods or no menstrual periods
- weight gain, headaches, and breast tenderness
- depression
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety warning about the use of the birth control shot. Studies link this shot to a loss of bone density in women, although bone density may recover when a woman is no longer getting the shot. The loss of bone density seems to be worse when the shot is used for longer periods of time.
Doctors are not sure how this type of shot may affect the bone density of teen girls in the future, though. Girls who are considering the shot should talk to their doctors about it and make sure that they get enough calcium each day. Those who smoke should be sure to let their doctors know because smoking may be connected to this bone density loss.
Women may notice a decrease in fertility for up to a year after they stop getting the birth control shot. However, the shot does not cause permanent loss of fertility and most women can get pregnant after they stop getting the shot.
How To Get It
Depo-subQ Provera 104 is available by prescription only. Nurx can help you get a prescription by connecting you with a doctor in your home state. Be sure to tell your medical provider if you have a history of osteoporosis, liver disease, breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, or blood clots when you ask about the birth control shot.
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Depo Testosterone Drug Interactions
In addition to being cautious when using depo-testosterone, its important to be aware of any potential drug interactions that could result from your using it. Using depo-testosterone with the following drugs could lead to dangerous or unpleasant side effects.
- Androgens can make you more sensitive to anticoagulant medication.
- Oxyphenbutazone should not be used in combination with androgens.
Other medicines that could possibly interact with depo-testosterone include Acenocoumarol, Anisindione, Bupropion, Dicumarol, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Paclitaxel, Phenindione, Phenprocoumon, and Warfarin.
If you take other medication, it can always be useful to do a quick google search asking whether or not your particular medicine could interact with an androgenic substance.
How Does It Work
Depo Provera is a medication that one of our doctors can prescribe for you. We can sell you Depo right here in our Centre. A doctor or nurse will give you the injection of Depo Provera in a muscle . You will get the first shot when you are having your period, and then you must come in every 11-13 weeks for your following shots.
The main way Depo Provera works is by preventing ovulation. This means your ovaries will not release an egg each cycle. It also thins out the lining of the uterus and thickens the mucous in the cervix.
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What Is The Depo
Depo-Provera is a birth control method that women can get as a shot. You might hear people call it a contraceptive injection or birth control shot. Itâs a manmade hormone, medroxyprogesterone, which is similar to the natural female hormone progesterone.
You get the shot in your arm or buttock. It works for up to 12 to 14 weeks. You have to get it every 12 weeks to get full protection..
Who Can Use The Injection
Most women can have a contraceptive injection.
But it may not be suitable if you:
- think you might be pregnant
- do not want your periods to change
- want to have a baby in the next year
- have unexplained bleeding in between periods or after sex
- have arterial disease or a history of heart disease or stroke
- have breast cancer or have had it in the past
- are at risk of osteoporosis
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What Other Drugs Will Affect Depo
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Other drugs may affect Depo-Estradiol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use Depo-Estradiol if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
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unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor
-
liver disease
-
a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot or
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a history of hormone-related cancer, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina.
Do not use Depo-Estradiol if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
Using Depo-Estradiol can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. You are even more at risk if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, if you are overweight, or if you smoke.
Depo-Estradiol should not be used to prevent heart disease, stroke, or dementia, because this medicine may actually increase your risk of developing these conditions.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
-
heart disease
Using Depo-Estradiol may increase your risk of cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovaries. Talk with your doctor about this risk.
Depo-Estradiol can slow breast milk production. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
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Birth Control Shot Side Effects You Should Know
When you hear the term birth control, the Pill probably springs to mind, followed by methods that are growing in popularity, like intrauterine devices and the Nexplanon implant. But there’s a slew of other options out there, including one that doctors say is popular but often overlooked in birth control conversations: the shot.
Depo-Provera, the brand name for medroxyprogesterone , is a contraceptive injection for women that contains progestin, a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone. Its given as an injection once every three months, the Mayo Clinic says, and it works by suppressing ovulation, i.e., it keeps your ovaries from releasing an egg each month that could get fertilized, resulting in pregnancy. The shot also thickens your cervical mucus to keep sperm from reaching an egg.
According to Planned Parenthood, the shot is more than 99 percent effective when its used perfectly but, in real life, the shot is about 94 percent effective because sometimes people forget to get their shot in time. That means about six out of every 100 shot users will get pregnant each year.
Rebecca Starck, M.D., an ob/gyn and clinical assistant professor of surgery at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, tells SELF that she tends to prescribe hormonal birth control pills, IUDs, and the implant more often than the shot, but Depo-Provera is among the range of options she discusses with her patients.
Related:
Links To Scientific Studies Used
Progression of puberty after initiation of androgen therapy in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadismhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784868/
Effects of Testosterone on Muscle Strength, Physical Function, Body Composition, and Quality of Life in Intermediate-Frail and Frail Elderly Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Studyhttps://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/95/2/639/2596855
Sex Hormone Effects on Body Fluid Regulationhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849969/
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If You Are Given Too Much
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think you or anyone else may have been treated with too much DEPO-PROVERA.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Depo
ADVANTAGES:
- It is very private no one can tell youre using it
- The chances of getting pregnant are very low and it is reversible
- You only have to get an injection once every 3 months
- Can reduce periods or you may no longer get a period
- Can reduce cramping and premenstrual symptoms
- Is not affected by taking most other medication
- May reduce the risk of getting uterine cancer and fibromas
- May reduce symptoms of chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis if you suffer from these conditions
- May reduce the number of seizures in people with epilepsy
- You dont need to keep any birth control supplies at home
- May be an appropriate option in people who cannot take estrogen
- May be an appropriate option in people who are breast feeding
- May be an appropriate option for people over 35 who smoke
DISADVANTAGES:
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Natural Alternatives You Should Consider
If youre considering depo testosterone bodybuilding benefits or hoping to use it for medical purposes, you may be concerned about the side effects and interactions. Before using a drug like this, you might want to check out some natural alternatives that can help restore testosterone levels.
- Diet. Diet is hugely important for maintaining testosterone levels, and if you have a bad diet this could be the culprit leading to your low testosterone. Vitamins and minerals like the B complex, vitamin D, zinc, and cholesterol will help to ensure that you can maintain an ideal level of testosterone.
- Exercise. Exercise is one way to boost testosterone levels, though it is much more effective when combined with a healthy diet and a proper sleep schedule.
- Herbal supplements. There are lots of herbs that have been shown to be useful for boosting testosterone levels or providing similar benefits as elevated testosterone levels. These herbs might not pack as much of a punch as some chemical androgens but they will benefit you with a much less serious risk of side effects.
- Pre-made supplements are great for helping to boost testosterone levels while providing well-balanced benefits. Furthermore, they save you from having to pick-and-choose your own testosterone herbs and vitamins.
Who Cannot Get It
The birth control shot should not be used by women who:
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding that they have not discussed with a health care provider
- Have a history of a stroke
- Diabetes with complications
- Lupus with antiphospholipid antibodies
Tell your health care provider if you have any of these risk factors or conditions, or any other medical concerns.
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How To Book And Prepare For Your Appointment
BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT
Booking an appointment with us is easy! Give us a call at 902.455.9656 ext. 0. You will be speaking with either a volunteer or a medical administrator. We cannot book appointments by email or Facebook. You cannot book an appointment for someone else, even if they are your partner or child. We will need to speak with them directly. To book, we will need your full name, birth date, phone number, and a very brief reason for your visit. Thats it! The person on the phone will outline anything you need to know to prepare for your appointment. Our average wait time for an appointment is 4-6 weeks from the day you call.
Make sure you bring your valid provincial health card with you to your appointment. Clients without health cards are subject to doctors and lab fees.
Are you a youth? You do not need parental consent for any of our appointments.
Dont have access to or lost your health card? You are entitled to your health card information! Call MSI toll-free at 1-800-563-8880 or at 902-496-7008 from Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. We require the number and the expiry date. Another tip: take a picture of your card! You will never lose it again!
What If I Am Late For My Injection
| If it is less than 15 weeks since your last injection |
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| If it has been more than 15 weeks since your last injection |
|
Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of the following symptoms, as they could indicate a serious complication:
- Signs of pregnancy
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There Can Be Negative Side Effects While You Use The Shot
Like all medicines, there can be side effects with the shot. But lots of people adjust to the shot with no problems. Many negative side effects usually go away after 2-3 months, once your body gets used to the shot. You can use our birth control app to keep track of the side effects you may be having.
Most people on the shot have some change in their periods, including bleeding more days than usual, spotting between periods, or no periods. This is most common during the first year. Other possible side effects include nausea, weight gain, headaches, sore breasts, or depression. You may also get slight bruising where you got the shot, or rarely, a small, permanent dent.
Lots of people who use the shot stop getting their period altogether after about a year of using it. Like all the side effects of the shot, this goes away after you stop getting the shot. Your period should go back to normal within a few months after your last shot wears off.
Birth control shouldnt make you feel bad. Luckily, there are many different types of birth control, so youve got options. If you keep having side effects that bother you, talk with your nurse or doctor about trying another birth control method.
Can Any Woman Get Depo
No. Depo-Provera® injections cannot be used by women who:
- Are pregnant
- Have a serious liver disease
- Have breast cancer
But the good news is that women who cant use estrogen can still use Depo-Provera®. Depo-Provera® may also benefit patients with sickle cell disease by decreasing sickle cell attacks. Depo-Provera® may also lessen the number of seizures in women with epilepsy.
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What If I Want To Get Pregnant Should I Use Depo
If you want to get pregnant in the next year, you should not use Depo-Provera®, since it can prevent pregnancy for 6-10 months after the last injection. However, if timing is not an issue and you dont want to get pregnant for a couple of years, then you can use Depo-Provera® until up to one year before you want to get pregnant.
Hormone In Birth Control Shot Linked To Memory Loss
The hormone used in Depo Provera has been shown to impair memory in rodents.
Blair Braden and Heather Bimonte-Nelson in the lab.
The birth control shot offers a convenient alternative to women who dont want to remember to take a daily pill. Ironically, recent research from ASU scientists has shown the shot may not be helping memory. In fact, it may be harming it.
The study is currently in press in the journal Psychopharmacology. It connects medroxyprogesterone acetate , the hormone active in the birth control shot Depo Provera and many widely used menopausal hormone therapies, to impaired memory in rodents.
The study was led by psychology doctoral student Blair Braden and Heather Bimonte-Nelson, associate professor of psychology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and director of the Bimonte-Nelson Memory and Aging Lab. The work was done in collaboration with Laszlo Prokai from the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center and Alain Simard from Barrow Neurological Institute.
The Bimonte-Nelson lab first linked MPA to memory loss in rats while studying it as a component of hormone therapy for menopause. This earlier study showed that MPA impaired memory in menopausal-aged rats, and was published in November 2010 in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. The current study specifically looks at the drug in relation to the birth control shot.
To test their memory, rats were placed in various water-based mazes to seek out hidden platforms in the water.
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Can Any Woman Use Depo
Most women can safely use Depo-Provera®. However, the birth control shot isnt recommended for everyone. Women who have certain conditions may not be good candidates for the birth control shot. These conditions include:
- Lupus.
- Heart disease or stroke.
- Osteoporosis.
You should talk to your healthcare provider about any possible side effects of Depo-Provera®.
Most of these side effects are not common. Changes in your menstrual cycle is the most common side effect that women experience. You may experience irregular bleeding or spotting. After a year of use, about 50% of women will stop getting their periods. Its not medically necessary to have a period every month to be healthy. Periods usually return when you stop talking the shot.