Contraceptive injections prevent pregnancy, are low maintenance, and compatible with breastfeeding, but cannot be used by those with certain health conditions. They can reduce the risk of some health problems but can also cause side effects and irreversible loss of bone density. They do not protect against STDs and are not recommended for long-term use.
Contraceptive injections, a type of contraceptive given every three months, have many positives and negatives. First, they can prevent pregnancy. Injections are also a relatively low maintenance form of birth control, can be used while breastfeeding, and can reduce the risk of some health problems. Contraceptive injections, however, cannot be used for people with breast cancer, blood clotting problems, or liver disease. They can cause irreversible loss of bone density, thus increasing the risk of osteoporosis, as well as causing some side effects. These injections also do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and are not recommended for women who want to become pregnant within two to three years.
According to research, contraceptive injections can prevent pregnancy at a rate of 97%, as long as the injections are given every three months. Studies have shown that only three out of 100 women who use contraceptive injections as their primary form of birth control experience a pregnancy within the first year. An injection relies on the progestin hormone to suppress ovulation and thicken cervical mucus to inhibit sperm from fertilizing any stray eggs.
Unlike estrogen-based methods of contraception, progestogen-based contraceptive injections are compatible with breastfeeding. Studies have shown that estrogen suppresses milk production, while progestin has little or no effect on it. While exclusive breastfeeding is considered a form of birth control for the first six months, or until solids are introduced into a baby’s diet, using a contraceptive shot at the same time reduces the chances of pregnancy.
Contraceptive injections have also been shown to reduce the risk of some uterine cancers by up to 80%. Studies have also shown that they reduce the development of uterine fibroids and in some cases shrink existing fibroids. The injections can also reduce the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease.
However, when used for more than two years, especially by women with a family history of osteoporosis, contraceptive injections can significantly reduce bone density in some women. This can lead to health problems later in life, causing bone pain, arthritis, and back and neck pain, as well as frequent breaking of bones. As a result, contraceptive injections are typically not recommended for long-term use.
This contraceptive method can cause some unwanted side effects in some women, including weight gain, irregular periods, dizziness, fatigue, and hair loss. In rare cases, it can also cause depression. As with any hormonal contraceptive method, these injections do not protect against contracting or transferring STDs. Therefore, it is recommended that a condom be used in conjunction with injections when a woman is not in a long-term monogamous relationship.
These injections achieve full protection two weeks after the first injection and continue to protect women from pregnancy as long as the injections are given regularly. Once the injections are stopped, however, it can take at least 10 months and up to three years for a woman’s fertility to reach her normal level. For women planning to become pregnant relatively soon, another form of birth control may be more suitable.
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