Birth Control Shot is Similar To Contraceptive Method
An easy to administrate contraceptive solution, the birth control shot makes a good choice for lots of couples all over the world. It has a slow-release form and it normally contains one type of hormone only: progesterone. During this period, there is no ovulation and no egg is released into the uterus.
In comparison with the hormonal pill, the birth control shot has a higher efficiency range. Only 3 out of 100 couples experienced unplanned pregnancy with the shot while for the pill the incidence is 8 in 100. Yet, if you wait longer than three months before you get the next shot, chances of getting pregnant are higher.
There is no protection against sexually transmitted diseases with the birth control shot. Plus, there are physiological changes that could be an inconvenience while using this birth control method. Here are some common side effects to the shot:
-irregular menstrual periods;
-weight gain, breast tenderness and headaches;
-mood changes and depression.
Overweight is the most difficult to fight back if it appears as a side effect, because hormonal imbalances are harder to correct. Other long-term side effects have been reported in relation to the use of the progesterone birth control shot. Thus, many women have developed osteoporosis by losing in bone density during the treatment.
In case you decide that the birth control shot is a good option for you, talk to your health care provider and make sure that your daily calcium intake is enough to support the hormonal treatment without loss of bone density. Moreover, fertility may be harder to recover after the long term use of the birth control shot. The fertility problem is not permanent, and women can recover in time, but difficulties could appear along the way.
Your doctor could also warn you about other potential problems and even advise against the shot in case she/he suspects an existing health condition. Do not use the birth control shot if you suffer from any of the following:
-headaches;
-disorders with blood coagulation;
-unexplained vaginal bleeding;
-thrombosis;
-cancer;
-if you suspect a pregnancy.
The costs of the birth control shot are moderate, and they are often covered by the health insurance plan. You just need to contact your doctor’s office and find out what you need to do in order to have access to such birth control treatment.
Moreover, do not use other drugs or herbal supplements in parallel with the birth control shot because you could reduce the efficiency. If you must follow a medical treatment, then use some alternative birth control method.
