Who shouldn't use Depo-Provera?
Women who think they could be pregnant should not have the Depo-Provera injection until pregnancy is completely ruled out. If you have had breast cancer you should not use Depo-Provera, as well as women who have had a stroke, blood clots (phlebitis) in the legs, or women who have liver problems or disease. If you are experiencing abnormal bleeding and the cause has not been determined you should not use Depo-Provera.You should have a GYN exam before your physician prescribes Depo-Provera. If you have any of the following conditions, it's important that your physician is aware of these health issues before you receive the Depo-Provera contraceptive injection:
- Family history of breast
cancer
- Previous abnormal mammogram
- Fibrocystic breasts, breast nodules or lumps
- Bleeding from your nipples
- Kidney disease
- Irregular or light menstruation
- High blood
pressure
- Migraine
headaches
- Asthma
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes or a family
history of diabetes
- Present or past history of depression
Of course, it's always important to inform your physician of any over-the-counter, prescription, or herbal medications that you are taking.
Those Shots...
It scares me to death when I read about women having "shots" of chemical (Pharmaceutical) hormones. Once you've got that stuff in your system there's nothing you can do about any of the side effects it might have. Mostly those hormones are a form of poison because they are not made exactly to the human body's requirements and therefore the poor old system has to work out how to get rid of them. Just think how much money the pharmaceuticals are making out of women who do not want to have periods (where have your heard of that ??) OK periods and all the discomforts that surround them are not fun, but they are NORMAL - surely pumping this stuff into your system cannot be right. Do you see guys doing that ? Would they do that ? Of course not. Its time we woke up and started to take responsibility for ourselves and not giving it over to the doctors who have no interest in us as people simply as patients who will make money for them - oh yes, they get little holidays in nice places if they can get enough of this stuff into their patients. It's scary and time we woke up.... Join this Forum conversation!
When is the right time to have the Depo-Provera injection?
Now that you have the facts, if Depo-Provera sounds like something you would like to try, your first step is to make sure you have the injection at the proper time in your menstrual cycle. The first injection of Depo-Provera must be given only during the first 5 days of normal menstruation. Women who want to use Depo-Provera following a pregnancy must have the shot within 5 days of birth if not breast feeding, or 6 weeks after childbirth if they are breast feeding. Each subsequent injection of Depo-Provera must be taken at regular 13 week intervals to effectively prevent pregnancy from occurring. Ask your physician for your return appointment when you receive your first injection of Depo-Provera.An important note about contraceptives and STDs...
Remember, the Depo-Provera contraceptive injection does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), it only prevents pregnancy when used as intended on a regular schedule. Unless you are in a long-term monogamous relationship, you should always use a condom in addition to all other methods of contraception to help prevent STDs such as chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and other STDs.Always contact your healthcare provider when you have questions, or experience side effects while using contraceptives, as well as when you are concerned about STDs or other health issues.
