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Contraception : Depo-Provera / Depo-Ralovera |
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Depo-Provera (or Depo-Ralovera) is an approved form of birth control in Australia. It contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is a man-made hormone similar to the naturally occurring hormone progesterone, and can, with one dose, provide highly effective birth control for a 3-month period.
Depo-Provera is given as an injection in the arm or buttocks and must be given once every 12 weeks to be effective. DEPO-PROVERA PREVENTS PREGNANCY IN 3 WAYS: - First, it prevents eggs in the ovaries from ripening and being released each month, so there is usually no egg to be fertilized.
- Second, it causes the mucus of the cervix to become thicker and stickier, preventing sperm from entering the uterus and fertilizing the egg.
- Third, in the extremely rare case that an egg does get released and fertilized, Depo-Provera causes changes in the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium). This makes it almost impossible for the fertilized egg to implant inside the uterus.
Together, these three things make Depo-Provera one of the most effective and reliable methods of birth control available. In fact, less than one percent of women become pregnant while using Depo-Provera. In addition, since Depo-Provera works for 3 months and does not require a woman to remember to use it during that time period, it is impossible to get pregnant due to misuse of Depo-Provera. The only way to misuse Depo-Provera is to miss the 12 weekly injections. It is very important to make sure you are not pregnant when the Depo-Provera shot is given for the first time. You may be given the shot without a waiting period if you: - have been using a highly effective method of birth control like the pill or an intrauterine device
- have abstained from vaginal intercourse for 2 weeks and
- tested negative to a very sensitive pregnancy test
Otherwise, you will need to wait to have your first injection within the first 5 days after the beginning of a menstrual period. If you have just delivered a child, you also may have your first injection within the first 5 days of delivery, unless you are breastfeeding. In that case, you will be advised to wait 4 weeks. This is because Depo-Provera has been found in very small amounts in breast milk. While no harmful effects are known to happen, the long-term effects on the baby are still unknown. The medication also can cause a reduction in the amount of milk produced early in the breastfeeding process. Depo-Provera has been shown to affect bone density, with some adult women who use Depo-Provera losing bone density faster than those women not using the method. The longer Depo-Provera is used, the greater the effect, although the bone loss is not large, and seems to be reversible. Once a woman stops having the contraceptive injection, her bone density improves over time. Also there is no evidence as yet that shows adolescents or women who use Depo-Provera are more likely to suffer bone fractures. All women using Depo-Provera, especially adolescents, should eat a diet rich in calcium and other nutrients, and do regular weight-bearing exercise to strengthen their bones. Article #5315 Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved. |
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Wednesday, 03 December 2008
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