MamasHealth.com Home Women's Health Adenomyosis Atrophic vaginitis Bartholin's abscess Cervical dysplasia Cervical polyps Cervictis Depo provera Domestic violence Endometrial hyperplasia Endometrial polyps Endometriosis Escape an attacker Folic acid Finding time for sex Hormone therapy Alternatives How to be a better mom HPV scare Important health tests Labial reduction surgery Menorrhagia Menopause Menstrual cramps Midlife checklist Mittelschmerz Moms need friends too Ovarian cysts Painful sex Pelvic exams PID PMS Polycystic ovarian Preeclampsia Pregnancy Salpingitis Toxic shock syndrome 1 Toxic shock syndrome 2 Urinary incontinence Urinary tract infection Uterine bleeding Uterine fibroids Vaginal cysts Vaginal dryness Vaginal rejuvenation Vaginal warts Vaginismus Vaginitis Vulvar dystrophy Vulvitis Vulvodynia Women & calcium Women & medicine Women & heart Disease Yeast infections Links Email Mama Tips to get him in the mood Why women should care about prostate cancer Donating your eggs Help for rape victims Stay at home moms Women and calcium 9 things women should know about men Shy girls guide to flirting	What is Depo provera? Depo provera is a hormone injection that lasts for 3 months to prevent pregnancy. The injection contains synthetic progesterone and no estrogen. It is usually given in the arm or rear, delivering a high level of progesterone into the body. How does Depo Provera Work? Depo Provera stops the ovaries from releasing eggs. A woman cannot become pregnant if their ovaries do not release eggs. Depo Provera also makes it harder for sperm to enter or survive in the uterus. Sperm have more difficulty entering and surviving the uterus because Depo Provera causes the cervical mucus to thicken and changes the uterine lining Advantages of Depo Provera One of the main advantages of taking Depo Provera is that is is a very private form of birth control. It cannot be seen on the body and requires no home supplies. It does, however, require a clinic appointment every 3 months. How effective is Depo Provera? Depo Provera is 99.7% effective as birth control. It does not protect against reproductive tract infections, including HIV/AIDS. Complications of Depo Provera There are some serious health risks with Depo Provera. Depo Provera may increase your risk of contracting an STD. According to a study in the journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, women who took Depo Provera are 3 times more likely to contract chlamydia or gonorrhea as those who use other forms of birth control. Depo Provera may increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Side Effects of Depo Provera Some of the most common side effects of Depo Provera are: weight gain irregular, heavy or no bleeding headaches nervousness mood changes bloating hot flashes decreased interest in sex breast tenderness acne hair loss back ache	Advertise on MamasHealth.com Sponsor a contest on MamasHealth.com Sign up for our Email Newsletter For Email Marketing you can trust
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