What are the chances of getting pregnant with Depo Provera?
It is unusual to get pregnant while taking Depo-Provera regularly, but pregnancies sometimes occur before the shot is given, and then go unrecognized until there is an obvious sign, like fetal movement. If a woman does becomes pregnant while using Depo Provera, and continues her pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of premature birth. Pregnancy and Depo Provera are like sunshine and rain. There is an extremely rare chance of them being together. Famed as one of the best birth control pills, Depo Provera is also infamous for preventing pregnancies even after use. This can be blamed on the long term effects of the hormone progestin, which is the main ingredient of Depo Provera.
Depo Provera is a hormone injection that lasts for 3 months to prevent pregnancy. It is a long-acting progestin based contraceptive is given as a shot into your arm or buttock once every three months. The injection has synthetic progesterone and no estrogen. Depo Provera stops the ovaries from releasing eggs and thus prevents pregnancy by preventing the ovarian egg cells from maturing and releasing from the ovary. If an egg does not mature and release from either ovary there is no egg to be fertilized by sperm and pregnancy cannot occur.
Depo Provera shot also changes the condition of the lining of the uterus so that pregnancy is less likely to occur. The effectiveness of Depo Provera in preventing pregnancy starts to wear off after three months, but the medication may remain in your body for up to a year. Due to the risk of serious health problems, Depo Provera is not recommended for women who are planning on becoming pregnant in the near future, are concerned over weight gain, have liver disease, gallbladder disease, or a history of depression. Your clinician or doctor can help you decide.
There are also a lot of other associated disadvantages of Depo Provera that can hinder conception after long term use. The long term use of this medication causes irregularities in menstrual cycles for many women. Though medically they are acceptable as side effects, they can be very disturbing for some women. Irregular, heavy, or no bleeding are common side effects of Depo Provera. After a year of use, many women stop having periods. By the second year of use, many women have no periods at all. In addition, they can also be misleading for women who want to keep track of their menstrual cycles.
Another concern for many women who are considering using or are using Depo-Provera is weight gain. On average, women gain about five pounds during the first year of use, so if you're using this method, it's a good idea to pay extra close attention to your eating habits and to get into an exercise routine. Furthermore, women who use Depo Provera may face an increased risk of osteoporosis and are advised to exercise and take in plenty of calcium. Some studies suggest, however, that bone density is restored once women stop taking Depo Provera.
If you have been on Depo Provera and decide you want to get pregnant, it may take more than a year to regain your fertility. Don't forget to take either folate or a daily vitamin that contains folate while you are off Depo Provera and trying to get pregnant. Folic acid can prevent birth defects that occur in the period before you might even know that you're pregnant.
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