Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Depo-Provera is a well-known brand name for medroxyprogesterone acetate, a contraceptive injection for women that contains the hormone progestin. Depo-Provera is given as an injection once every three months. Depo-Provera typically suppresses ovulation, keeping your ovaries from releasing an egg. Depo-Provera also thickens cervical mucus to keep sperm from reaching the egg.
Medroxyprogesterone acetate is also available in a lower dosage. This version is called Depo-subQ Provera 104. While Depo-Provera is injected deep into the muscle, Depo-subQ Provera 104 is injected just beneath the skin. Depo-Provera and Depo-subQ Provera 104 have similar benefits and risks. However, less long-term information is available about the effectiveness of Depo-subQ Provera 104.
To use Depo-Provera or Depo-subQ Provera 104, you'll need a prescription from your doctor or other health care provider.
- Zieman M. Overview of contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 17, 2011.
- Depo-Provera (prescribing information). New York, N.Y.: Pfizer Inc.; 2009. http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=0ceb4952-5af3-4b80-b8b5-cea4e9a5486d. Accessed Oct. 17, 2011.
- Depo-subQ Provera (prescribing information). New York, N.Y.: Pfizer Inc.: 2010. http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=390087a6-f3c3-4f0b-a930-79acf412f153. Accessed Oct. 17, 2011.
- Kottke M. Nondaily contraceptive options: User benefits, potential for high continuation and counseling issues. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. 2008;63:661.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 18, 2011.
- Kaunitz AM. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 17, 2011.
- Depo-Provera contraceptive injection: Safety labeling changes. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/ucm232329.htm. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed Oct. 17, 2011.
- Zieman M, et al. A Pocket Guide to Managing Contraception. Tiger, Ga.: Bridging the Gap Communications; 2010:121.
- Depo-Provera. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm. Accessed Oct. 18, 2011.
- Depo-subQ Provera. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm. Accessed Oct. 18, 2011.
- Heffron R, et al. Use of hormonal contraceptives and risk of HIV-1 transmission: A prospective cohort study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. In press. Accessed Oct. 31, 2011.
- Statement on the Heffron et al study on the safety of using hormonal contraceptives for women at risk of HIV infection. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/entity/reproductivehealth/news/Statement_Heffron_study.pdf. Accessed Oct. 18, 2011.
Find Mayo Clinic on