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By Mayo Clinic staffDepo-Provera is used for contraception. Your health care provider might recommend Depo-Provera if:
- You don't want to take a birth control pill every day
- You want or need to avoid using estrogen
- You're breast-feeding — Depo-Provera doesn't contain estrogen, which can affect milk supply
- You're age 35 or older and smoke
- You have health problems such as anemia, seizures, sickle cell disease, endometriosis or uterine fibroids
Among various benefits, Depo-Provera:
- Doesn't require daily attention
- Eliminates the need to interrupt sex for contraception
- Decreases menstrual cramps and pain
- Decreases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and endometrial cancer
Depo-Provera isn't appropriate for everyone, however. Your health care provider may discourage use of Depo-Provera if you have:
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Breast cancer
- Liver disease
- A history of blood-clotting problems
- Sensitivity to any components of Depo-Provera
- Risk factors for osteoporosis
In addition, tell your health care provider if you have diabetes, depression, or a history of heart disease or stroke.
- 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.
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