Side effects of contraceptive injection

Contraceptive Injections

Many women all over the world choose contraceptive injection to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Thirty years ago, contraceptive injection was largely disputable. The reason was that doctors didn’t inform women about negative side of these injections. Nowadays, it is still a preferable option of many, but contraceptive injection or jab is not equally good for everyone.

Contraceptive injections include hormones and they are administered into muscle. Their purpose is to prevent pregnancy for certain period of time. Usually effects last for 2 to 3 months. Contraceptive injections are alternative for birth control pills. Their advantage is that you don’t have to plan sex and take the pill before it. Also you can forget about condoms and chemicals. Contraceptive injection are also useful in prevention of ovarian cysts and pregnancy outside the uterus.

Two types of contraceptive injections are currently available in United Kingdom: 1) Medroxyprogesterone – the mostly used, effect lasts for three months. 2) Norethisterone – protects for two months and it isn’t as obtainable as Medroxyprogesterone. Both of these contraceptive jabs contain progesterone like hormone called “progestogen”. In United States and some other countries you can find contraceptive injection with two hormones included.

Subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) is a low-dose formulation of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) that nonmedical personnel can administer safely and effectively.

Overall, 21% [95% confidence interval (CI): 19%-23%] of women reported interest in self-administration. A multivariable model found that women currently using DMPA (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=3.93, 95% CI: 2.37-6.53, p<.001 and women who previously used dmpa ci: p were more likely to have an interest in dmpa-sc than those never it.>
Women reporting difficulty obtaining or refilling a prescription were almost twice as likely to have interest in DMPA-SC as women who reported no difficulty (AOR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.43-2.77, p<.001>
Women surveyed at abortion sites were more likely to report interest in self-administration than women surveyed at family planning sites (AOR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.05-2.30, p<.05 interest in dmpa-sc was primarily driven by a desire to eliminate unnecessary return visits facility for repeat injections.>

✓ Fact confirmed: Interest in self-administration of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate in the United States Ushma D. Upadhyay, Vera M. Zlidar, Diana Greene Foster; 2016 Jun 17.

Side Effects of Contraceptive Injections

Contraceptive injections have side effects. They mainly affect menstrual cycle. Disturbed periods will be result in 40 % of the cases.

Side effects of Medroxyprogesterone include:

1. Menorrhagia (abnormally heavy and prolonged periods),

2. Oligomenorrhea (infrequent and very light menstruation),

3. Absence of menstruation,

4. Weakness,

5. Dizziness,

6. Abdomen pain,

7. Weight gain,

8. Difficulty to restore fertility.

Side effects of Norethisterone are similar but also include sensitive and painful breasts as well as reaction on injection spot such as redness and swelling.

Contraceptive injection is given during the first five days of menstrual cycle. In some cases, it can be given after child birth but it may result in heavy bleeding. Usually, it will be administered six weeks after labor. For women who plan to breastfeed their babies, this should be prolonged until baby stops taking breast milk.

Recommendations

Gynecologists and obstetricians recommend keeping in mind several important points concerning contraceptive injections. Women suffering from breast cancer and hepatitis must not use contraceptive jabs. Medical history must be taken into consideration before use of contraceptive jabs.

Contraceptive jabs are 99% effective. Fertility can be impaired for one year after cessation of taking the jab. Women can experience disturbed menstrual cycle due to contraceptive injections. Contraceptive injections are not harmful to breastfeeding. Weight gain and acne might occur due to these jabs.