Depo Shot in Naperville, IL
Women have a number of options for birth control including the birth control shot. This is the common name for the Depo-Provera,® an injectable birth control method for women.
Commonly called the depo shot or birth control shot, this medication contains a type of progesterone hormone to provide protection against pregnancy.
The birth control shot can protect against pregnancy for up to 14 weeks, but women usually receive one shot every three months, (12 weeks). The injection is typically given by your provider in a clinic setting in your arm or buttox.
Our team as extensive experience providing guidance around the various forms of birth control. We will answer any questions you may have about the depo shot and determine if this option is right for you. Please call (630) 687-9595 to schedule an appointment at our OBGYN office in Naperville, IL today!
How Does the Birth Control Shot Work?
The injection contains the hormone progestin which suppresses ovulation, or the release of an egg during a woman’s monthly cycle. If a woman doesn’t ovulate, she cannot get pregnant because there is no egg to be fertilized.
The birth control shot:
- suppresses ovulation
- keeps the ovaries from releasing an egg
- thickens cervical mucus
- keeps the sperm from reaching the egg
- does not protect against sexually transmitted disease
Benefits of a Birth Control Shot
The birth control shot has a number of benefits that may be right for you. One of the most attractive parts of the shot is that you only have to think about birth control four times a year. This is much less when compared to the pill.
The birth control shot may be for you if you:
- don’t want to take a birth control pill every day
- want or need to avoid using estrogen
- have health problems such as anemia, seizures, sickle cell disease, endometriosis or uterine fibroids
As you talk to your health care provider, you will decide which form of birth control will work best for your situation and your goals. It is important to know the benefits of the shot, and if it will help you prevent pregnancy in a healthy, safe way.
Some benefits of the birth control shot include:
- That it doesn’t require daily action
- Eliminates the need to interrupt sex for contraception
- Decreases menstrual cramps and pain
- Lighter periods, and in some cases stops menstruation
- Decreases the risk of endometrial cancer
Is the Birth Control Shot Right for Me?
In a year of typical use, an estimated six out of 100 people using Depo-Provera will get pregnant. The risk of pregnancy is much lower, however, if you return every three months for your injection.
In order to prevent pregnancy, you have to remember to get a new shot every 12-13 weeks. That’s about every three months, or four times a year. Staying on top of injections is vital for the shot to prevent pregnancy.
The shot may:
- Delay your return to fertility
- Affect your bone mineral density
- Be linked to weight gain or bloating
- Result in changes in mood or other hormone imbalance
- May cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, and other side effects
- Some of these risks are normal for any type of contraceptive. It typically takes a few weeks for your body to respond and adjust to the new hormone levels.
Because of these risks, talk to your doctor to see if the birth control shot is right for you.
Schedule a Depo Shot Appointment in Naperville, IL Today!
If you are considering the depo shot as a form of birth control, contact Wright Center for Women’s Health to discuss the benefits and receive your birth control shot. Please call (630) 687-9595 to schedule a consultation at our gynecology office in Naperville, IL. You can also request an appointment online to schedule an appointment with us.