The Depo-Provera shot can be a convenient, lower-maintenance birth control option. You receive it in a doctor’s office every 3 months to help prevent pregnancy.

Depo-Provera, commonly referred to as the birth control shot, is the brand name of the medication depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). DMPA contains progestin, a synthetic hormone that works like the sex hormone progesterone.

Read on to learn more about Depo-Provera, including the pros and cons, how the shot works, and more.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved DMPA as a contraceptive in 1992. With a 99% efficacy rate with correct use, it’s considered highly effective at preventing pregnancy.

Pros

  • You only need to receive the shot once every 3 months, or 13 weeks.
  • There is less opportunity to miss a dose compared with taking a daily pill, which is a concern for some people.
  • Depo-Provera doesn’t contain estrogen, so it may be an alternative for people who can’t take combination birth control pills or other hormonal contraceptives that contain estrogen.

Cons

  • The shot doesn’t provide protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
  • You might notice some period-related side effects.
  • You will need to visit your doctor’s office to receive the shot.
  • The shot can temporarily affect fertility. Once you stop getting the shot, it may take up to 18 months before you can become pregnant.

The Depo-Provera shot works by blocking ovulation, or the release of an egg from your ovaries. If you don’t ovulate, you can’t become pregnant.

The progestin in the injection also thickens the mucus on your cervix to help prevent sperm from getting through the cervix to the egg. This thickening of the cervical mucus offers additional protection against pregnancy, in the unlikely event that ovulation happens.

You can go a maximum of 15 weeks between shots before the shot no longer prevents pregnancy. If you get the shot more than 15 weeks after the previous shot, you’ll need to use another method to prevent pregnancy for 1 week after getting the shot.

You might prefer the Depo-Provera shot to other forms of birth control if you:

  • can’t take contraceptives that contain estrogen
  • would prefer not to take a pill every day and don’t want to use an intrauterine device (IUD)
  • have no plans to become pregnant for the next 2 years

A doctor or clinician can always offer more information about your available options for birth control, along with more personalized recommendations based on your individual health history and lifestyle.

If the shot sounds like a good fit for you, reach out to your doctor’s office, OB-GYN, or local health clinic to make an appointment.

At your appointment, the clinician will go over your health history to make sure it’s safe for you to receive the shot. They may ask questions about:

  • other types of birth control you’ve used in the past
  • any side effects you experienced
  • your last period or period patterns
  • the possibility of pregnancy
  • your medical history
  • any concerns about side effects

If there’s any chance you could be pregnant, you’ll typically need to take a pregnancy test before you can get the shot. You’ll also likely need to take a pregnancy test if you miss or delay a shot.

Some healthcare professionals may also recommend getting the shot during the first 5 days of your period or within 5 days after giving birth, or by the 6th week postpartum if you nurse exclusively

You’ll receive the injection in either your upper arm or your buttocks.

The Depo-Provera shot is highly effective. It has an efficacy rate of about 99%, which means that only around 1 in 100 people using Depo-Provera will become pregnant.

Research from 2013 suggested that, with perfect use, your chances of unplanned pregnancy are only about 0.2% during the first year.

Your chances of becoming pregnant increase if you don’t receive the shot on time. Perfect use might involve getting the shot every 13 weeks with no variation.

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The shot isn’t right for everyone. A doctor or clinician may not prescribe the shot if you have:

Other conditions may also pose a risk when taking Depo-Provera. It’s important to ensure your doctor is aware of your full medical history before taking the shot.

The Depo-Provera shot affects everyone differently, and it can cause a number of side effects.

Weight gain and changes in your menstrual cycle are the most common side effects, according to 2021 research.

Some people who use the shot notice their periods become lighter over time or completely stop after several months of use. This is safe.

However, other people using the shot might have longer, heavier periods. Spotting, or bleeding between periods, is also common.

Some other possible side effects include:

You can use the shot to prevent pregnancy while taking gender-affirming hormones such as testosterone.

It’s safe to use Depo-Provera when nursing, according to Planned Parenthood, and it won’t affect your baby or the amount of milk you produce.

If you’re nursing exclusively, the manufacturer recommends waiting until 6 weeks after childbirth to receive your first dose.

Effects on bone mineral density

Because the shot can lead to a decrease in bone density over time, doctors may recommend using Depo-Provera for no more than 2 years.

Talk with your doctor for more information about their recommendations for Depo-Provera.

You can contact your doctor for advice if you are considering using Depo-Provera. They can provide information about the suitability of the shot based on your individual circumstances.

If you currently receive the shot, it’s best to share any side effects you experience with a doctor or clinician. They can help monitor side effects and offer guidance on switching to another type of birth control.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you notice:

  • jaundice
  • breast or chest lumps
  • sharp pain in your chest, shortness of breath, and blood in your cough
  • pain and swelling in your calf or lower leg
  • signs of a stroke
  • severe abdominal pain or tenderness on one side
  • unusual or prolonged vaginal bleeding
  • signs of infection at the site of the injection
  • itchy skin, hives, or difficulty breathing

It’s also a good idea to reach out to your care team right away if you live with any of the conditions listed below and notice any changes in your health while using the shot:

  • diabetes
  • high blood pressure
  • depression
  • asthma
  • migraine
  • epilepsy

The Depo-Provera shot can provide a reliable method of birth control for some people. You receive the shot at your doctor’s office every 3 months.

It’s important to consider the shot’s possible risks. It may not be suitable for everybody, and your doctor can provide you with more information about this.

A doctor or clinician can offer more guidance on the best birth control methods for you based on your health history and whether you plan on becoming pregnant in the near future.

Crystal Raypole writes for Healthline and Psych Central. Her fields of interest include Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health, along with books, books, and more books. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. She lives in Washington with her son and a lovably recalcitrant cat.