If you're switching from a birth control pill to a shot, get your first
shot 7 days before you stop taking the pill
. You need to finish you pill pack before you switch methods. If you switch from the shot to a pill, you can take your first pill up to 15 weeks after your last birth control shot.
Is the injection more effective than the pill?
When combination birth control pills are taken correctly, they are up to
99% effective
in preventing pregnancy. Progestin-only pills are about 95% effective. The birth control shot (Depo-Provera) also is about 99% effective in preventing pregnancy (average annual failure rate is about 3%).
How do you get off contraceptive injection?
You can stop using Depo-Provera
at any time by simply not getting the next shot
. Because Depo-Provera may cause bone density loss, you should not use it for more than two years. Discuss other birth control options with your doctor at that time.
How do I change contraception?
Do this: safely switch to/from one type of birth control to another by going straight from one method to the next one – no gap! – and
use condoms or spermicide for the first 7 days
. One note about switching from pills: you don't need to finish the birth control pill pack before switching.
Can I use the pill and the injection at the same time?
Take your first birth control pill. Because Depo-Provera remains in your body for up to 15 weeks after your last shot, you
can start your first birth control pill at any time within that time
frame. Most doctors recommend taking your first pill the day your next shot would be due.
How long does it take for the 3 month injection to wear off?
It may take up to 10 months after stopping the birth control shot to get pregnant. It only takes
15 weeks
after your last shot for pregnancy protection to wear off.
Can you fall pregnant while on the 3 month injection?
If you're using the birth control shot correctly, which means getting it every 12-13 weeks (3 months),
it's highly unlikely that you'll get pregnant
. Only 6 out of 100 people get pregnant each year while using the shot.
What are the side effects of the 3 month injection?
Other side effects included
weight gain, headache, nervousness, abdominal pain or discomfort, dizziness, and asthenia
. Physicians should administer the drug only to women found not to be pregnant, because fetal exposure may lead to low birth weight and other problems.
Can you get pregnant on depo if he doesn't pull out?
Yup! The birth control shot
protects you against pregnancy 24
/7, no matter how many times you have sex. But it's important to make sure you always get your shots on time. Each shot of Depo-Provera protects you from pregnancy for 12-13 weeks (3 months).
What happens if you take Depo-Provera for more than 2 years?
The longer you are on
Depo-Provera the more calcium you may lose
. This increases the risk of your bones weakening if you use Depo-Provera continuously for a long time (for more than 2 years). The calcium may not return completely once you stop using Depo-Provera.
Is switching birth control brands bad?
It's normal and completely safe to switch birth control methods
, as long as you talk to your doctor first. Learning about different types of birth control and how to safely switch can help you find the best method for you.
What is the safest contraceptive?
The kinds of birth control that work the best to prevent pregnancy are
the implant and IUDs
— they're also the most convenient to use, and the most foolproof. Other birth control methods, like the pill, ring, patch, and shot, are also really good at preventing pregnancy if you use them perfectly.
What happens when switching birth control?
Can switching birth control cause you to have lighter periods?
Yes
. In general, hormonal birth control methods that contain both estrogen and a progestin (birth control pills, the patch, NuvaRing) decrease the number of days of bleeding and the amount of blood women lose each cycle.
Can I get pregnant a week before my next Depo shot?
You shouldn't be more than two weeks late coming in for your Depo-Provera® shot. If you are late or miss a shot, you can get pregnant.
You can come in earlier than 12 weeks if
you need to. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best timing for your shots and the risks of missing a shot.
Can you get pregnant 1 month after stopping Depo?
It's unlikely that you'll be able to get pregnant right after you stop taking the shot. Because each shot delivers enough hormones to protect against pregnancy for three months at a time, the earliest you may be able to conceive is
about 12 weeks after your last injection
.
Can you still get pregnant on the injection?
Depo-Provera is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy
, which means that 1 in 99 women will conceive while taking it.
