What Are the Side Effects of the Contraceptive Injection?

The contraceptive injection, otherwise known as the Depo Provera shot, is a method of birth control that lasts for up to three months. Depo Provera is currently the only injectable contraceptive available on the market in the United States, and it works by injecting a large amount of the pregnancy hormone progesterone into the body. Some women who don't want to deal with taking a daily pill or who haven't responded well to other forms of contraception choose the contraceptive injection for convenience purposes. It is not without side effects, however, and these should be considered carefully.

Change in Sex Drive

Thanks to the influx of hormones with the injection, many women find that they suffer a loss of sexual drive. This is very common and wears off the longer that you continue to receive the injection and the longer time it has been since received your last injection.

Menstrual Changes

The University of Illinois McKinley Health Center notes that some women may experience bleeding that is irregular or unpredictable. Some of this bleeding with be regular, like a period, while some might just be light spotting. The center also notes that after a year of use, 40 percent of women no longer saw this side effect.

Depression

The injectable contraception shot can cause moodiness, depression and other out-of-the-ordinary feelings because of the hormones the body is getting. These changes in mood may be like PMS symptoms, but they could be worse. Women who have already had depression are more susceptible to this side effect.

Bone Loss

The Mayo Clinic warns that some women may experience a decrease in bone density, but only for the duration that they are using the shot. Once the shot is discontinued, the bone density goes back to normal.

Weight Gain

Slight weight gain is another side effect that some women may be concerned about. Many contraceptive injection users find they gain anywhere from one to five pounds in the first year and eight pounds in the second year while on this particular form of birth control.

Acne

Women may experience more or more severe acne while the hormones from the injectable contraceptive are in their system. This is normal and very common, and similar to the amount of acne you would get from other hormonal contraceptives like the pill and the patch.

Breast Tenderness

Your body has an influx of progesterone in it when you become pregnant. It's no wonder that you'll experience some side effects that are similar to side effects of pregnancy, like breast tenderness, headaches, dizziness and abdominal pain.

Delayed Fertility

The contraceptive injection may delay your fertility. It may take a few months for your menstrual cycle to get back to normal after using the shot as a means for birth control. You must wait until the hormones have cycled through your body and have worn off before full fertility returns once again.