Yaz and Depo-Provera are prescription medications used to prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation. Both medications have characteristics that the patient should be aware of before choosing one as a birth-control method.
Dosage and Administration
Yaz is composed 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg of drospireone. The medication package includes 24 light pink tablets and four white tablets. The patient should begin the medication on the first day of her period or first Sunday after her period, according to Drugs.com. Depo-Provera is a 1 mL vial of medroxyprogesterone given as an intramuscular injection. It is given every three months by a physician in an office or clinic during the first five days of the patient's period.
Efficacy
Yaz is 92 percent to 97 percent effective and Depo-Provera is about 97 percent to 99 percent, according to the CDC. Missing a dose of birth control increases the risk of becoming pregnant and decreases efficacy. In the case of Yaz, the patient should speak with a health-care professional on specific instructions for what to do in the case of a missed dose. In the case of Depo-Provera, efficacy is dependent on the patient returning to the physician's office every three months for the shot.
Warnings
Yaz has a box warning stating that smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular side effects, especially in patients 35 or older. Depo-Provera has a boxed warning stating that prolonged use of the drug might lead to a loss of bone mineral density, according to the Drug Information Handbook.
References
- Drugs: Yaz
- CDC: Unintended Pregnancy Prevention: Contraception
- "Drug Information Handbook"; Charles F. Lacy, Lora L. Armstrong, et al.; 2009
