What should you know about contraceptive injections?

Contraceptive injections are substances that are applied to the arm or buttock, using a syringe, with the aim of temporarily avoiding a pregnancy. It is a very effective contraceptive method for women. It is estimated that out of every 100 women who use it correctly, less than 1% become pregnant.

According to its components, The effectiveness of this contraceptive method can last from one to three months. In addition, women who are at the age of adolescence, they are recommended to use monthly injections. The reason for this advice is that they are given a lower dose of hormones.

Contraceptive injections protect for 33 days from its application. Once this time has elapsed, even if only for one day, protection against pregnancy is lost. For this, The woman should be given the injection on the same date every month.

However, there is another type of contraceptive injections that, as we will see later, have a more lasting effect. We invite you to discover it in detail.

How does contraceptive injection work?

These contraceptive injections they contain hormones similar to those that are synthesized in the female organism, which try to inhibit ovulation. Injections of this type are also known under the name "Depo Provera", "Depo injection", "contraceptive injection" DMPA "or" medroxyprogesterone acetate ".

They are composed, as we have said, by hormones that seek to inhibit ovulation, specifically, progestin. But nevertheless, There are also combinations of progestin and estrogen. As for the former, they have a duration of effect of 2 to 3 months. On the other hand, the combined ones, the duration is reduced to one month.

Progestin prevents pregnancy by preventing ovulation. Without an ovum in the fallopian tubes, pregnancy can not be triggered. In addition, this hormone causes the thickness of cervical mucus, which hinders the passage of sperm.

Some advantages and disadvantages of contraceptive injections

Before choosing contraceptive injections it is important to evaluate their advantages and disadvantages.

Like almost all products, contraceptive injections it also presents both advantages and a series of disadvantages. Therefore, it will be up to each person to choose this method or not as a pregnancy prevention system.

As for the advantages, they stand out for their effectiveness, which, as we have said, the probability of failure is less than 1%. Also, they do not interfere during sexual intercourse. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that this injection can improve acne and improve premenstrual symptoms.

As it is administered once a month, its use is discreet and trustworthy. But nevertheless, does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections, which is important to keep in mind.

It is not recommended to use it during the lactation period And it can be a bit tedious for those people who do not like the fact of having to give themselves an injection.

Many people think that it can generate sterility, recovering the ability to reproduce when suspending its use and that adolescent women should not use it. However, these ideas are completely false

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Do contraceptive injections cause discomfort or health problems?

Nausea can be one of the side effects of using contraceptive injections. However, they do not occur in all cases.

These injections are not absent from certain risks that are important to assess when starting with their administration. In some women there have been reports of nausea and changes in the regularity in which menstruation occurs.

This is due to the effect of the hormonal content of these administrations, which they can alter the normal course of the organism's functioning. In addition, for the same reason, contraceptive injections may cause a slight weight gain in the woman who uses them.

In this way, for greater security, It is important that before using this method of contraception you go to a doctor to advise you and you can choose the method that is most suitable for you.

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In conclusion…

Contraceptive injections are effective in preventing pregnancy if the injection is given at the right time. The success rate reaches 99%, being as effective as a ligation of the fallopian tubes.

However, it is very important to keep in mind that this type of contraceptive method does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, so you should also use condoms in order to prevent this type of diseases.

Consultation with the doctor what type of contraceptive method is the most convenient for you and let yourself be advised.