Lunelle

Lunelle is a monthly birth control shot that is 99 percent effective when given as prescribed. The monthly shot eliminates the hassle (for some people) of remembering a pill every day and is equally effective.

Lunelle is given as an injection into the muscle of the upper arm, thigh, or buttocks, by your gynecologist, doctor, or at your clinic every month. Lunelle contains hormones similar to the natural hormones estrogen and progesterone produced by your body. After injection the hormone levels peak and gradually decrease until the next injection. Lunelle protects you the moment you get the first injection as long as it is within the first five days of your period. It's important to remember that the next injection should be 28 to 30 days from the last one and no later than 33 days no matter when you get your period.

Lunelle keeps you from getting pregnant by using hormones it contains to signal a gland in your brain not to release FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). Therefore, no egg matures that month to be fertilized. It's also believed that Lunelle causes your cervical mucus to thicken, thus preventing any sperm from meeting up with an egg. It also prevents the lining of your uterus from "plumping" up, which it usually does each month, while readying itself to nourish the egg if it indeed is fertilized.

If you belong to any of the following groups of have the following symptoms, you should not take Lunelle:

Women who are pregnant

Women who are trying to get pregnant

Women who have had blood clots (not including menstrual blood clots)

Women with a history of chest pains

Women with a history of cancer

Women with unexplained vaginal bleeding

Women with a history of liver disease, stroke or heart attacks

Women over 35 years old or those who smoke 15 or more cigarettes a day

You should not smoke while using any hormone. It increases your risk of heart attack, stroke and serious blood clots. This is true at any age.

The side effects of Lunelle are:

1) Within the first few months, most women will have a change in their periods, either no bleeding, irregular bleeding, or spotting.

2) Some women may lose weight but the average change was an increase of four pounds. in the first year. Some women may gain 10 or more pounds in the first year.

3) Any hormonal birth control substance containing estrogen can increase the risk of side effects which are increased with smoking especially if you are over 35 or smoke more than 15 cigarettes per day.

Like all hormonal contraceptives, Lunelle does not protect against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Only latex condoms will protect you so be sure to always use them.

If you decide that Lunelle might be right for you, make an appointment with your doctor to get a physical, a pap smear and to rule out the possibility of a current pregnancy in order to receive the shot.