Depo-Provera Contraceptive

Medroxyprogesterone injection is used to prevent pregnancy. It is a birth control method that works by stopping a woman's egg from fully developing each month. The egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization is prevented.

No contraceptive method is 100 percent effective. Birth control methods such as having surgery to become sterile or not having sex are more effective than birth control pills. Discuss your options for birth control with your doctor.

This medicine does not prevent AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. It will not help as emergency contraception, such as after unprotected sexual contact.

Medroxyprogesterone injection is also used with other medicines to help relieve symptoms of inoperable, recurrent, and metastatic (cancer that has already spread) endometrial or kidney cancer.

This medicine is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain medroxyprogesterone. It may not be specific to Depo-Provera Contraceptive. Please read with care.

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital or clinic. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles (usually in the buttocks or upper arm).

If you are using Depo-Provera®: This medicine is initially given on a weekly basis, but the frequency may be less often over time.

If you are using Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection):

• To make using hormonal contraceptives as safe and reliable as possible, you should understand how and when to use them and what effects may be expected.
• This medicine comes with patient information insert. Read them carefully and make sure you understand them before receiving this medicine. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.
• Your doctor must make sure you are not pregnant before you start treatment with this medicine. For most women, this means you must receive your first shot during the first 5 days of a normal menstrual period. You will need to receive this medicine every 3 months (12 to 14 weeks). Be sure to keep all appointments with your doctor to receive your injections.
• If you plan to start this medicine after having a baby, you should receive your first shot within 5 days after your baby is born. If you plan to breastfeed your new baby, talk to your doctor about when to get your first shot. Some doctors may suggest waiting 6 weeks before getting your first shot, but others may suggest getting the shot sooner after the baby is born. If you wait 6 weeks, talk to your doctor about using an alternative form of birth control.
• If you are switching from another method of birth control, carefully follow your doctor’s instructions about when to have your first injection of this medicine.
• You need to have enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Your doctor might suggest that you take supplements.

Missed Dose

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

You must have your shot of Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection) every 12 to 14 weeks to prevent pregnancy. If you do not get another shot after 14 weeks, talk with your doctor. You may need to use another form of birth control and wait until your next menstrual period before starting the shots again.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits when you are using Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection) to make sure this medicine is working properly and does not cause unwanted effects. These visits will usually be every 3 months, but some doctors require them more often. Your doctor will check your blood pressure once a year.

Although you are using Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection) to prevent pregnancy, you should know that using this medicine while you are pregnant could harm the unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause your bones to lose calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis (thin or weak bones). This calcium loss could continue the whole time you are receiving this medicine. Your bones should start to rebuild calcium after you stop using this medicine. This is more of a concern if you are a teenager, smoke or drink alcohol regularly, have other bone problems, anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder), a family history of osteoporosis, or use other medicines that also affect your bones (such as steroids or medicine to treat seizures).

You will need to talk with your doctor if you want to use this medicine for more than 2 years. You might need to be tested to make sure your bones are not losing too much calcium.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves, difficulty with breathing, a sudden, severe headache, slurred speech, a sudden, unexplained shortness of breath, a sudden loss of coordination, or vision changes while using this medicine.

Check with your doctor immediately if you have blurred vision, difficulty with reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

There is a very slight chance that this medicine could increase risk of breast cancer in some women. Talk to your doctor about this risk. Make sure your doctor knows if anyone in your family has had breast cancer.

Call your doctor right away if you have severe lower abdominal or stomach pain 3 to 5 weeks after receiving Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection). You may have a pregnancy outside of the uterus (womb), which is called an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can be a serious and life-threatening condition. It can also cause problems that may make it harder for you to become pregnant in the future.

Most women have changes in their menstrual periods while using Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection). You might have irregular bleeding, spotting, or heavier or lighter periods. Many women stop having periods. Call your doctor if you have very heavy or nonstop bleeding.

This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine may cause fluid retention (edema) and weight gain in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have bloating or swelling of face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet, tingling of hands or feet, or unusual weight gain or loss.

Using these medicine may cause adrenal problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have darkening of the skin, diarrhea, nausea, or weight gain around your neck, upper back, breast, face, or waist.

If you plan to have children after you stop using Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection), it may take up to year or longer before you can become pregnant. However, do not depend on this medicine to prevent pregnancy for more than 13 weeks.

Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection) will not protect you from getting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections. If this is a concern for you, talk with your doctor.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.