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Is it too late to get the birth control shot?


Someone asked us:

Hi, I recently lost my insurance coverage and because of it I can’t go back to the gyno I went to for my depo injection. I saw that I need an appointment at least a week or two in advance to get it, but my window to get it ends in 4 days. If I called a center would they be able to help me? If I miss my window, what should I do to get back on the shot?

Hi there. Sorry to hear about your insurance situation — we know how incredibly stressful losing your insurance can be. You should definitely call your local Planned Parenthood health center and explain your situation, to see if they can accommodate you (or refer you to a place that can). 

Hopefully you’ll be able to get your shot in time, and your protection won’t be interrupted. But if you can’t get your shot within four days, here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Every dose of the shot lasts 12 weeks. If you are two or more weeks late getting your shot, your health care provider may ask you to take a pregnancy test, or may advise you to use emergency contraception if you had vaginal intercourse in the previous 120 hours (five days).

  • You can start using the shot again as soon as possible, but heads up: you might not be protected right away. If you get the shot within the first seven days after the start of your period, you’re immediately protected. But if you get it any other time, you need to use a backup method for the first seven days.

  • In general, if it’s been more than 12 weeks since your last shot, it’s a good idea to use a back up method (like a condom) until you can get back on your regular shot schedule.

You can also read more about the birth control shot on our website. Good luck!

-    Alex at Planned Parenthood

Tagged: questionsdepobirth control shotinsurance

Will I have my period if I use Depo?


Someone asked us:

I got the Depo shot yesterday and I am freaking out. I’ve been reading online and I am so scared that I’ll never have my period or never be able to have kids. I am just scared. Yesterday was my first shot ever and I’m supposed to have my period in 2 days am I still going to have it? Please help me.

Hi there! Go ahead and take a deep breath — it’s really easy to get sucked into the black hole of misinformation on the Internet, especially when it comes to something as serious as your health. But the truth is, the birth control shot is safe and effective.

For most people who use the shot, periods become fewer and lighter, especially in the first 6 to 12 months. So you might get your period at the normal time this month, or it might be a little irregular. After a year of using the shot, there’s about a 50 percent chance you’ll stop having your period altogether. This is a completely normal side effect, and it won’t affect your ability to have children in the future. Since the shot is long lasting, it might take 6 to 10 months to get pregnant after you stop using the shot. But the shot won’t make you infertile (unable to have children).

There’s no medical reason why you need to get your period every month, but if getting your period each month is important to you, you might want to try a different form of birth control. Before you get your next dose of the shot (in 12 weeks), you should make an appointment to talk with your health care provider about your concerns. And you can read more about the birth control shot on our website.

-Alex at Planned Parenthood

Tagged: questionsbirth controldeposide effectsbirth control shot

The birth control shot and missed periods

Someone asked us:

Q. I’ve been on Depo for almost two years now and have not had a period for eight months. I am not pregnant and my gyno does not see it as a serious issue. Should I still be worried that something might have happened, or maybe the pregnancy tests have been false? I am petrified of being pregnant and I dont want to end up like the women on the TV show, “I didnt know I was pregnant.” What should I do?

Not getting your period is a normal side effect of Depo-Provera. The shot is very effective at preventing pregnancy, but if not getting your period causes you to freak out about being pregnant, you might want to consider changing to another kind of birth control. Our My Method tool can help you figure out which birth control method is best for you. You can also learn more about the birth control shot on our website.

-Amy at PPFA

Tagged: Depobirth controlbirth control shotquestionsAm I Pregnant?side effects

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