The Shot

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT FOR 12- Weeks

If you’re the kind of person who would have trouble remembering to take a pill every day, the shot might be a good option. You only need to remember to do something once every 12-weeks (approximately three months).

TOTAL PRIVACY
No one can tell when you’re on Depo. There’s no telltale packaging, and nothing you need to do before you have sex.

YES, THERE ARE NEEDLES INVOLVED
If you’re really that scared of needles, then Depo probably is not for you.

IT’S A LOVE/HATE THING
Depo is one of those methods that some people LOVE and some people HATE.

SMOKERS OVER 35
The shot is a better option than other hormonal methods for smokers over 35 years old because it reduces the risk of complications like blood clots. If you’re younger than 35, why not quit smoking now and save yourself the trouble in the future?

THE PREGNANCY QUESTION
It is possible to get pregnant as soon as 12 weeks following the last injection, though for some people it can take up to 10 months for fertility to return.

THERE’S NOT REALLY MUCH YOU HAVE TO DO
in order to use the shot - just make sure to keep regular appointments with your doctor, go to the health center, have an exam, and get an injection. Every 12 - weeks (approximately three months), you’ll go in for another injection. Easy-breezy.

Make sure to discuss the timing of your period and the shot with your doctor, because that’ll help determine how soon after the shot you’ll be protected.
Also, it’s really important to get your shots on time. If you’re more than two weeks late for an injection, you may have to get a pregnancy test before the shot. Talk to your health care provider to learn more and remember, any birth control decision such as the implant should be a fully informed decision free of coercion.


TIPS AND TRICKS
Take additional calcium! 1200mg + 800 units of Vitamin C.
Spotting improves with time. So give it a chance - two or three cycles. (That’s 6–9 months in Depo time.)

THERE ARE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY
about each and every method. And everyone’s different—so what you experience may not be the same as what your friend experiences.

THE POSITIVE
Positive “side effects”? You bet. There are actually lots of things about birth control that are good for your body as well as your sex life.

• Easy to use


• Doesn’t interrupt the heat of the moment


• Super private no one will know unless you tell them


• You don’t have to worry about remembering to take it every day


• Might give you shorter, lighter periods or no periods at all


• Your birth control is taken care of for 12-weeks (approximately 3 months) at a time


• Can be used by women who can’t take estrogen


• It’s very effective at preventing pregnancy if you get the shots on time

THE NEGATIVE
Everyone worries about negative side effects, but for many people, they’re not a problem. Remember, you’re introducing hormones into your body, so it can take a few months to adjust. If side effects are unbearable or do not improve, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider.

THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS:

• Irregular bleeding, especially for the first 6-12 months (This could mean longer, heavier periods, or spotting in between periods.)


• Change in appetite or weight gain (It’s common for some people to gain around 5 pounds in the first year, while other people gain nothing.)

LESS COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:

• A change in your sex drive


• Depression


• Hair loss or more hair on your face or body


• Nervousness or dizziness


• Headache


• Nausea


• Sore breasts

There’s no way to stop the side effects of Depo once you have received the injection. If you still feel uncomfortable after the course of at least two shots in a row, switch methods and stay protected. You’re worth it.
*For a very small number of women there are risks of serious side effects.

WE’RE HERE TO GET THIS METHOD WORKING BETTER FOR YOU.
And if it still doesn’t feel right, we’ve got ideas for other methods. Just remember: If you change methods, make sure you’re protected during your switch.

I CAN’T AFFORD IT.
Birth control can be expensive, especially with no insurance. But raising a baby costs even more. If you have private insurance, the shot is probably covered and might cost you no more than your co-pay. If you are not covered by insurance or unsure consider visiting a local Title X funded clinic or enrolling in Texas Healthy Women If those aren’t options for you, check out health centers in your area that may give you a discount or payment plan if you can’t afford the full price of the shot. Another solution might be to ask your partner to help pay for the expense.

I LOST MY SEX DRIVE.
There are many things that can affect a person’s sex drive. First, figure out if there’s other stuff going on in your life that could be causing you to lose your sex drive. Like, are you stressed? Or having relationship issues? You might want to try exercising more, therapy, or changing things up in the bedroom.

Still not working?
If you’ve looked at other things in your life that might cause the loss of sex drive and are still pretty sure it’s the shot, think about switching to the pill, the patch, or the ring (which have fewer hormones and are easier to stop if the problem persists) or an IUD (which has low or no hormones). You could also try non-hormonal methods such as the diaphragm, male condoms, or female condoms.

I WANT TO GET PREGNANT SOON.
If you’re already on Depo and you’ve decided you want to get pregnant, you’re going to have to wait it out. There’s no way around it. But 12 weeks after your last injection, you’ll be ready to start trying. It may take some time, though. Sometimes it can take up to 10 months after the last shot for fertility to come back completely.

Still not working?
If you think you’d like to become pregnant sometime in the near future, you might want to choose one of the hormonal methods that allows a faster return to fertility, such as the pill, patch, ring , or IUD . You might also consider a non-hormonal method, like male condoms or female condoms.

I GAINED WEIGHT.
Some people do, in part because the shot can increase your appetite and make you eat more without realizing it. Diet and exercise are the obvious remedies here. (Doesn’t everyone always say that?)

I’M GETTING HEADACHES.
Headaches are pretty uncommon with the shot, so you might want to look into other reasons for the aching. If the headaches are bad, definitely go see your doctor.

Still not working?
If you can’t find another reason for the headaches and want to switch methods, consider the IUD, pill, patch, or ring.

I FEEL MOODY.
Is there anything else going on in your life that could be causing you to feel moody? Look into that first.

Still not working?
If moodiness is still an issue, think about using a shorter-acting, lower-dose method, such as the pill, patch, or ring. You could also try either type of IUD.