Every woman in her life is faced with the choice of a method of contraception. One way is birth control injections. This is an effective method of long-term protection. Hormone injections are more than 99% reliable for preventing unwanted pregnancies.
The effect of contraceptive injections can be compared to the use of oral contraceptives, a vaginal ring or a spiral. The composition of such drugs includes progestin or testosterone, which are similar to the hormones produced by the body of a woman and a man. This method of contraception can be started at any time during the menstrual cycle in the absence of pregnancy.
Male contraception
Currently, contraceptive injections for men have not gained the same popularity as for women, due to low effectiveness and side effects. Most of the stronger sex use condoms,resort to coitus interruptus or have a vasectomy.
Contraceptive injections for men include an artificial hormone - testosterone. In large quantities, it reduces the motor activity of the spermatozoa necessary for the fertilization of the egg.
Men's hormonal contraception, like women's, offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections.
Pros of hormonal contraception for men
The benefits of using birth control injections for men are:
- contraceptive method reversibility, unlike vasectomy;
- an alternative for couples who cannot use certain methods of female contraception, such as combined birth control pills.
Cons of using injections for men
According to studies and observations, male contraceptive injections have a number of disadvantages, for example:
- Side effects: acne, increased sweating, weight gain, decreased sex drive.
- Injections do not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
- It will take up to six months for the drug to wear off.
- According to statistics, 1 in 25 men does not stop sperm production when using injections.
Injections for women
There are several names for birth control injections for women. The most popular drug is Depo-Provera. Injections are usually given during the first 5 days of the menstrual cycle. In this case, the contraceptive effect of the drug begins immediately. If the procedure is carried out on other days of the cycle, you must wait up to 7 days to achieve a contraceptive effect. Re-injection is carried out after 12 weeks.
Another drug that prevents unwanted pregnancy is Noristerat. Unlike Depo-Provera, this injection is administered at intervals of 8 weeks. Due to the thicker, oily consistency, Noristerat injections are slightly painful.
Operation principle
When using contraceptive injections, artificial progesterone is released into the blood. It is similar to a natural hormone produced by a woman's body during her menstrual cycle. The injections provide reliable contraception for up to 3 months.
The continuous action of progestin in the form of injections has the following effect on the body:
- ovulation stops;
- mucus thickens from the cervix, thereby making it difficult for sperm to pass;
- the thickness of the endometrium decreases, as a result of which the fertilized egg cannot stay in the uterus.
Contraceptive injections are artificial hormones. Synthetic progesterone shots are usually given in the buttock (sometimes the leg or arm) during the first five days of the menstrual cycle. In this wayprovides protection against unwanted pregnancy immediately after the introduction of the hormone into the muscle.
Re-injection is carried out between 8 and 12 weeks after the previous injection of the drug. In cases where a woman skips the procedure for any reason, one should refrain from unprotected sexual intercourse and use condoms.
Indications
Contraceptive injections are a long-term method of contraception. The drug is prescribed only after consulting a gynecologist. The specialist assesses the state of he alth of the woman, collects an anamnesis and, if necessary, appoints an additional study. The procedure is also performed only by a doctor.
The specialist may prescribe contraceptive injections in the following cases:
- not being able to take pills daily;
- contraindication to the use of drugs containing estrogen;
- having a he alth problem such as anemia, seizures, sickle cell disease, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids.
Contraindications
Progesterone injections for contraception can be given to most women. However, this birth control method will not work if:
- maybe pregnant already;
- unspecified vaginal bleeding;
- emergency contraception after unprotected intercourse;
- high blood pressure;
- heart disease;
- stroke;
- diabetes mellitus;
- liver disease;
- educational riskblood clots;
- migraine;
- depression;
- prone to osteoporosis;
- history of breast cancer.
It is also worth noting that birth control injections reduce natural estrogen levels. For this reason, this method of contraception is not recommended until the age of majority (18 years).
Benefits
Absolutely safe drugs do not exist. In the use of contraceptive injections, there are also pros and cons. The main advantage of contraceptive injections is that they protect against unwanted pregnancy immediately after the first injection. Other positive factors include:
The rarity of the drug. Injections are administered after 8-12 weeks
- No need to interrupt sex life.
- An alternative when other methods of contraception are not available.
- Safe for breastfeeding.
- No interaction with other drugs.
- Injections can reduce discomfort in the premenstrual period, menstrual pain, the intensity of blood loss during menstruation.
Flaws
The disadvantages of contraceptive injections for women include the appearance of various side effects. In some cases, they can occur only in the first time after the administration of the drug, in others - constantly. These include:
1. Menstrual irregularities.
In the first year of birth control shotswomen may experience significant changes in the menstrual cycle. Typically, these periods can become irregular, painful, short, or stop altogether. By the end of the first year of using contraceptive injections, 70% of women experience amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). After the end of the effect of the drug, it may take from 3 months to a year to fully restore the menstrual cycle and hormonal levels.
2. Increase weight.
Many women after using hormonal injections notice a slight increase in their weight. In this case, it is necessary to reduce calorie intake and increase physical activity.
3. Bone problems.
Using contraceptive injections for more than two years can lead to bone thinning. It is impossible to completely reverse this condition even after discontinuation of the drug. Therefore, some doctors recommend that women take calcium and vitamin D while they use this method of contraception.
In addition to the side effects described above, some women may experience:
- headaches,
- increased sensitivity of the mammary glands,
- mood swings,
- decrease or increase in sex drive,
- hair loss,
- nausea,
- appearance of acne,
- bloating and stomach cramps,
- rarely an allergic reaction.
As you get used to the drug, most of the side effectseffects usually go away. It is also worth noting that contraceptive injections for women are very painful.
This method does not protect partners from contracting sexually transmitted infections.
Risks
According to studies, the use of hormonal contraception increases the risk of cancer, such as breast cancer. If this type of malignant tumors was found in relatives, a woman should avoid contraceptive injections. In such cases, it is safer to use barrier methods such as condoms.
Features in use
Contraceptive injections or shots of a hormonal drug are usually injected into a muscle in the arm, leg, or buttocks. The procedure can be performed on any day of the cycle, but most often done on the 5th day after the start of menstruation. Contraceptive injections are compatible with breastfeeding. Therefore, injections can be started 6 weeks after birth.
The contraceptive effect after the administration of the drug lasts up to 12 weeks. Then you need to re-inject.
Reviews
Some women cannot use different types of contraception for a number of reasons. Hormonal injections are an excellent alternative to condoms, oral contraceptives, and implants. But it is worth remembering that only a doctor can prescribe such drugs.
Many women report a number of benefits to using hormonal injections forpreventing unwanted pregnancy. The most important is the low frequency of the procedure. The drug is administered 1 time in 3 months. During this period, there is no need to remember to take any pills, there is no need to use condoms with a regular partner, there is no fear of getting pregnant.
However, reviews of contraceptive injections for women are mixed, as many experience side effects after using hormonal injections. Very often in women, the menstrual cycle is disturbed, there are problems with weight, skin, and the skeletal system. Restoration of the body, hormonal levels and fertile function takes a long time. Irregular menstruation is the most common reason to stop using this method.
Unlike oral contraceptives taken daily, the contraceptive effect of the injection cannot be stopped. The woman can only wait for the end of the drug exposure period. It is worth remembering that the consequences of using injections are not fully understood. There are many ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Before choosing a method of contraception, you should consult with a gynecologist, as well as weigh all the pros and cons.
